BLS COMPETENCY

Question 1

What is the anagram we follow for BLS?

Answer 1

DRS BC

• danger
• response
• shout
• breathing
• circulation

Question 2

What is the first thing we do if we see someone who appears to enter cardiac arrest/collapses ?

Answer 2

Assess any potential surround dangers before stepping in to help

Question 3

After danger has been assessed, what is the next stage in assessment of BLS?

Answer 3

RESPONSE

• gently shake person to try and get a response
• speak loudly
• “can you hear me? hello?”

Question 4

If the person does not respond, what is the next stage in assessment for BLS?

Answer 4

SHOUT FOR HELP

Question 5

What are the final steps in assessing need for BLS?

Answer 5

Check breathing and circulation:

• palpate carotid pulse
• hand on chest look for rise & fall of chest to show breathing

Question 6

The patient is letting out infrequent noisy gasps, what is this?

Answer 6

AGONAL BREATHING

• not normal breathing
• ignore this

Question 7

You decide that the patient is in cardiac arrest, what do you immediately do?

Answer 7

TELL BYSTANDER TO PHONE 999 & GET SOMEONE TO RETRIEVE AED

• state cardiac arrest & patient not breathing
• give location
• give contact number
• COVID status if known

Question 8

999 has been called what do you immediately begin to do while the AED is retrieved?

Answer 8

CHEST COMPRESSIONS

• 30 compressions to 2 breaths (continuously until equipment arrives)
• interlocked fingers, straight elbows
• compressions should be 5cm-6cm
• 100-120 compressions a minute (2 per second)

Question 9

How do you prepare the patient for AED?

Answer 9

• expose chest (use scissors if necessary), wipe dry if appears moist, shave any hair if present
• attach pads as per kit

Question 10

What are the two shockable rhythms?

Answer 10

• ventricular fibrillation

- pulseless ventricular tachycardia

Question 11

The AED suggest that a shock is necessary, how do you administer the shock in a safe way?

Answer 11

• Announce ‘SHOCKING, STAND CLEAR!‘
• Do not touch patient or equipment
• Move O2 canister a meter away

Question 12

What voltage level is administered to the patient?

Answer 12

150 joules = 4800 volts

Question 13

When is it appropriate to intervene with the airway?

Answer 13

Once you have donned full AGP PPE

Question 14

You retrieve the airway kit, what should you have?

Answer 14

• Oxygen canister

- Bag valve mask

Question 15

What level of O2 is administered to the patient?

Answer 15

15 litres of 100% O2 per minute

Question 16

You try to give 2 rescue breaths but see no rise and fall of the patients chest, what do you do?

Answer 16

• readjust mask and try again

- still not working, size and insert oropharyngeal airway

Question 17

What floors are defibrillators located on in the dental school?

Answer 17

Levels

• 1
• 3
• 4
• 6
• 7