Title: Identify emergencies and health-threatening conditions and the appropriate responses.
Course: Medication Aide (14051-36) > Section: Preparing for Safe Administration of Medications

Identification should include

- causes for emergencies
  - injury
  - illness
  - complications related to illness or injury
  - unwanted effects of medication
- common emergency conditions
  - excessive, uncontrolled bleeding
  - accidents involving severe injury
  - failure or obstruction of the respiratory system
  - uncontrollable behavior which is a danger to the client or others
  - loss of consciousness unrelated to predictable seizure activity
- types of health-threatening conditions which should be reported
  - life-threatening emergencies
  - nonemergency, but health-threatening conditions
  - other significant changes in physical condition or behavior
- appropriate responses to emergencies:
  - Call 911.
  - Provide assistance to the client until help arrives.
  - Collect the client’s medical record for the HCP.
- appropriate responses to non-emergencies but health-threatening conditions, following facility protocol for reporting and documentation
- appropriate follow-up to emergencies and non-emergencies but health-threatening conditions, following facility protocol for reporting and documenting
- other significant changes in physical conditions or behavior, following facility protocol for reporting and documentation.

Process/Skill Questions:

- What are the signs of anaphylactic shock?
- How would an MA activate the emergency medical services (EMS)?
- How would an MA control bleeding?
- What is the universal sign for choking?
- How does an MA provide first aid for soft-tissue injuries?