Medical Emergencies: A Comprehensive Guide for Dental Professionals

This comprehensive guide provides dental professionals with a thorough understanding of medical emergencies that may arise in a dental setting. It covers the roles and responsibilities of a first aider, essential first aid procedures, emergency equipment, and the management of various medical conditions. The guide also emphasizes the importance of patient safety, ethical considerations, and accurate record-keeping during emergencies.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

Table of Contents
Explain the role and responsibilities of a first aider........................................................................2
Explain where the following are kept in you dental practice..........................................................5
Complete the following chart to show how you would deal with each medical emergency...........7
Using one of the medical conditions shown above, complete the following accident report using
yourself as the patient......................................................................................................................8
Describe the following items and explained how you would use them safely..............................10
Complete the following chart to show which medical emergency each of the following drugs
would be used................................................................................................................................12
Complete the following chart to give details of the different types of bleeding...........................13
Reference List................................................................................................................................16

Explain the role and responsibilities of a first aider
A first-aider may be defined by another term that is “a life saver’. A first aider is entrusted with
the responsibility of supervising and maintaining the facilities of first aid at the time of
emergency (Zamecnik and Kureckova, 2016). The first aider’s roles and responsibilities are to
provide instant medical heed before the advent of additional medical help. Overall aim of a first
aider is to safeguard the life of the others in an urgent situation. The various roles and
responsibilities are as follows-
 Administer the happening and make sure the continuing protection of themselves, people
around them and the victim
 review fatalities and find out the temperament & reason of their injury
 organize for additional medical help or other urgent situation services to focus (for
example the service of fire)
 If skilled, prioritize fatalities based upon medicinal requirement
 Provide suitable treatment of first aid as skilled
 If possible, make remarks/interpretation of fatalities
 fill up any formalities as necessary
 make available a handover when additional medical help turn up

Emergency Signs and symptoms Give first three actions to deal
with this emergency
EPILEPTIC SEIZURE  Confusion for a
temporary period
 Looking intently
 The jerking movements
of the legs and arms
which are not under the
control
 Don’t leave the person
alone
 Observe the breathing
of the patient
 Keep them in a safe
position and protect
their head especially
ANAPHYLACTIC
SHOCK
 Pain in abdominal
 Sneezing and runny
nose
 A feeling of having a
lump in the throat or a
intricacy in swallowing
 Maintain the privacy
and dignity of the
patient
 Lie the patient still on
his or her back
position
 Cover the patient with
a blanket and don’t
give anything to drink
SHOCK  Hasty pulse
 Brisk breathing
 Feeling of vomiting or
sickness
 Try to keep the patient
warm and comfortable
 Rest the patient down
if doable
 Take care of
noticeable injuries
CUTS, GRAZES  Unwell feeling
 Temperature above
normal
 tenderness, rosiness or
swelling in the affected
part
 Rinse with water the
cut or wound
 Apply a dressing on
the cut or grazes
 Give a support to the
body part that is

injured
BRUISES  Bruise which is fresh
will be ruddy in color
 Tender and painful at
the initial stage
 No risk of infection in
bruises
 Rest the area which is
bruised if doable
 Lift up the part which
is injured
 Put an ice pack
wrapped in a cloth for
some time
MINOR BURNS  Signs of infection
 Increase pain in the
affected area
 Huge blood blister
 Grasp the burned part
under calm water
 Protect the burn and
cover it up with a
sterile
 Treat the pain of the
patient
SEVERE BLEEDING  Tight and swollen
abdomen
 Feeling of
breathlessness
 Feeling of nausea and
vomiting
 Lay down the person
who is injured
 Try to stop the
bleeding
 Try not to remove the
bandage
List the items found in a first
aid box
The emergency items are used during emergencies
(Winstock and et al., 2015). They are-
 Scissors
 Sticky tapes
 Bandages
 Cleansing wipes
 Cold and cough syrups
 Antiseptic creams

Items kept in emergency drug
kit
 Glycogen vaccination
 Adrenaline vaccination
 Aspirin dispersible
List the other first
aid/emergency equipment
found in a dental practice
 Aspirin
 Sugar that is immediate spring of glucose
 Histamine vaccination
Explain where the following are kept in you dental practice
Accident
Book
Kept with other similar records
First Aid
Box
clinic
Emergen
cy Drug
Kit
clinic
What is a scene survey?
A quick survey may be defined as a survey, which is made to figure out if any person is suffering
from life threatening injuries or conditions ( Scott and et al., 2018).
How is it carried out?
DR.ABC is the initial to carry out primary survey. The steps involved in primary survey are-
 Danger
 Response
 Airway

 Breathing
 Circulation
What is a primary survey of the casualty?
The primary survey of the casualty involves many points (Humphreys, 2014). They are-
 History- Finding the medical history of the patient
 Examination-Examining the Patient
 Vital observations- Signs of the injured which are visibly vital
How is it carried out and by whom?
Survey s mainly carried out by two ways that is primary survey and secondary survey. First aider
generally carries it out in an emergency or any uncertain situation.
Explain the risks to yourself and other during a medical emergency and how the risks can
be minimised
You Physical attacks by patient
How can you overcome these risks? By wearing safety equipments before coming
into contact with patient
Others (patients in waiting room) Physical risk
How can you overcome these risks? By controlling the patient and placing them in
a safe position together with own safety
Complete the following chart to show how you would deal with each medical emergency
Emergency Signs And Symptoms Treatment Required

SMALL SPLINTERS  Pain at the affected part
 Tenderness, swelling on
the part
 Lay down the person
 Clean the area with
water
PARTIALLY  Breathing difficulty
 Fatigue
 Anti inflammatory
 Control the movement
of the patient
BLOCKED AIRWAY  Confusion
 Panic
 Rest the person
 Give medicines to
control the blood
pressure
COMPLETELY
BLOCKED AIRWAY
 Breathing difficulty
 Confusion
 Rest the person in a
comfortable position
 Give emergency
medicines if possible
Emergency Signs and symptoms What first aid
would be
administered and
how
What is your role
during this
emergency
HYPOGLYCAEMIC
COMA
 Anxiety
 fatigue
 Routine
Insulin
Injections
 Regular
Exercise
 Not to leave
the person
alone
 Assure they
are in a
comfortable
position
HEART ATTACK
(MYOCARDIAL
INFARCTION)
 Discomfort
 Nausea
 Give nitro-
glycerine
 Call for
immediate
 Give them
immediate
vaccination
s

medical help  Assure they
are placed
in a
comfortable
environmen
t
CARDIAC ARREST  Fainting
 Breathlessness
 Rest the
person in a
comfortable
condition
 Call for
immediate
medical help
 Don’t leave
the person
alone
 Assure
pollution
free
environmen
t
What modifications are required when providing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation to:
A small child Knell beside the child and push them hard and give rescue breathes.
A baby Check the sight and the child and make sure that the baby responds
during CPR
Using one of the medical conditions shown above, complete the following accident report
using yourself as the patient
ACCIDENT/INCIDENT FORM
INJURED PARTY
NAME Claudia papara
D.O.B 13th October 1992
ADDRESS 11. ring road
ACCIDENT DETAILS Fire occurrence
FORM COMPLETED BY Medical practitioner
DATE 5th June 2018
TIME & LOCATION 12 o’ clock, united kingdom

TIME REPORTED 1:00 pm
REPORTED BY father
Nature Of Injury Minor burns
How accident happened: Due to fire in house
Describe what activity was
taking place
Uncontrollable breathing, large blisters on skin
Name and contact details of
witnesses
John papara
0120-987544
Treatment given Covered with a sterile bandage and cured the pain
Details of treatment given Cleaned the blisters and bandages the affected part
Were the following
contacted
AMBULANCE- YES POLICE- NO
Relative/next of kin
informed
If yes, give details
(name/address etc.)
NO _
All of the above facts are a true account of the accident/incident
Signed: CLAUDIA PAPARA…………………………………………………………………..
Date: 5TH JUNE 2018………………………………

Describe the following items and explained how you would use them safely
Pocket mask
Description Mask used during breathing
What it is used for For safe pollution free breathing
How it is used safely It is used safely to deliver rescue breathes
How dealt with after
use
It is disposed of by recycling methods
Self-inflating
resuscitation
bag
Description It is a self inflating bag
What it is used for Bag is used to provide positive pressure to
ventilation patients
How it is used safely It is used to provide pressure to pateints
How dealt with after
use
It is disposed of by recycling methods
Defibrillator
Description Small device which is placed in abdomen
What it is used for Controls life threatening disease that affect hearts
rhythm
How it is used safely It do the job of life saving
How dealt with after
use
Disposed off by proper methods
Oxygen
cylinder
Description Cylinder used for providing oxygen
What it is used for Used for patients with breathing problem
How it is used safely Kept in proper place
How dealt with after
use
Proper methods are used for disposing
Oropharyngeal
airway
Description Medical device to retain a patients airway
What it is used for unbolt a patients airway
How it is used safely Preserved in a place which is far from children
How dealt with after
use
Disposed off by proper recyclable methods
Pulse oximeter
Description Pulse measuring machine
What it is used for To monitor a persons pulse
How it is used safely Used under proper supervision
How dealt with after
use
Disposed off by proper means

Blanket
Description bulky piece of malleable cloth
What it is used for To keep the patient warm
How it is used safely Used under supervision
How dealt with after
use
Disposed off
Triangular
Bandage
Description Piece of soft material
What it is used for Used for dressing
How it is used safely Used under supervision
How dealt with after
use
Disposed off by recyclable methods
Tweezers
Description tiny instrument for picking up bits and pieces
What it is used for Used for handling minute object
How it is used safely Kept beyond the reach of small children
How dealt with after
use
Disposed off by proper recyclable method
Scissors
Description A shearing device operated by hand
What it is used for For cutting materials
How it is used safely Under supervision
How dealt with after
use
Disposed by proper method
Disposable
gloves
Description Covering wrap for each finger
What it is used for Used for indirect contact with anything
How it is used safely Kept far off from the reach of small child
How dealt with after
use
Disposed off by proper means
Face mask
Description A covering for the purpose of protection
What it is used for Used for breathing in pollution free environment
How it is used safely Beyond the reach of small children
How dealt with after
use
Disposed of by proper method
Description Wipes for cleaning wounds or cuts
What it is used for Used for cleaning infected part

Non- alcohol
wound wipes
How it is used safely Used by knowledgeable first aiders
How dealt with after
use
Disposed of by proper recycling method
Safety pins
Description disparity of a regular pin
What it is used for Used for fastening pieces of clothes
How it is used safely Used with proper precaution
How dealt with after
use
Disposed off and kept beyond the reach of small
children
Cotton Wool
Description Made of cotton
What it is used for Cosmetic or medical purpose
How it is used safely Used with proper precautions
How dealt with after
use
It is disposed of by recyclable means
Complete the following chart to show which medical emergency each of the following drugs
would be used
Item Used to treat How administered
(oraly/injection etc.)
Adrenaline During low blood pressure injection
Aspirin To reduce body temperature orally
Chlorpheniramine To relieve allergy orally
Diazepam/
Midazolam
For alert sedation orally
Flumazenil Used during surgery injection

Glucagon To control sugar levels injection
GlycerylTrinitrate To provide relive from the
pain of chest
orally
Hydrocortisone To trat itching, redness and so
on
injection
Salbutamol To protect airway of lungs orally
Complete the following chart to give details of the different types of bleeding
Type of bleeding Appearance (colour, flow
etc.)
How to treat
Venous bleeding
Dark red  Clean the wound
 Protect the wound
Capillary bleeding
yellowish  Clean the wound
 Protect with a bandage
Arterial bleeding
Bright red  Clean the wound
 Protect and cover with a
bandage
What is the dental nurse’s role during a medical emergency?
To assist the medical practitioner
How would you assess a casualty’s level of consciousness?
By checking different levels of a human being that is blood pressure, sugar and so on
How would you open the casualty’s airway and check for breathing?
By using the device used for checking breathing of a person

When would you place an unconscious casualty into the recovery position and why?
Onto the side with tilted head in back position to control unconsciousness
How would you place an unresponsive casualty into the recovery position?
By holding them and placing them in a position with their head tilted back
How would you place an unresponsive casualty into the recovery position?
By holding them and placing them in a position with their head tilted back
How do you know when to commence CPR?
When a person is unconscious and facing difficulty in breathing
Why do you need to establish consent before providing first aid and how would you do
this?
To obtain permission from patients guardian before giving any injections or orals which may
not prove to be beneficial for them
Explain your practice’s procedures for dealing with medical emergencies and your and
other team members roles in the procedure.
The patients are placed in a comfortable position and adequate medicinal orals or injections are
provided at the right time.
How would you treat the casualty with dignity and respect during the medical
emergency?
By keeping them away from other person around and bringing them in a comfortable position.
When recording details about a medical emergency why should the records be:
 accurate, To assess correct details about patient
 clear, To eliminate confusion

 dated, To assess correct information
 legible To understand the overall situation

Reference List
Zamecnik, P. and Kureckova, V., 2016. Evaluation of first aid education in driving schools in the
Czech Republic. Resuscitation, 106, p.e53.
Winstock, A., Lynskey, M., Borschmann, R. and Waldron, J., 2015. Risk of emergency medical
treatment following consumption of cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids in a large global
sample. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 29(6), pp.698-703.
Scott, K.M., Saha, S., Lim, C.C., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Benjet, C.,
Bromet, E.J., Bruffaerts, R., Caldas-de-Almeida, J.M. and de Girolamo, G., 2018. Psychotic
experiences and general medical conditions: a cross-national analysis based on 28 002
respondents from 16 countries in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. Psychological
medicine, pp.1-10.
Humphreys, P., 2014. The chances of explanation: Causal explanation in the social, medical,
and physical sciences. Princeton University Press.
American Heart Association, 2017. What is high blood pressure?. South Carolina State
Documents Depository.
Derakhshan, A. and Eslami, Z., 2015. The Effect of Consciousness-Raising Instruction on the
Pragmatic Development of Apology and Request. TESL-EJ, 18(4), p.n4.