5.3 Fire, Choking, and Emergency Response
Key Takeaways
- For fire response, remember RACE: Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate.
- For extinguisher use, remember PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
- If a resident can cough forcefully during choking, encourage coughing and call for help.
- Report chest pain, trouble breathing, seizures, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, and stroke signs immediately.
- The CNA follows facility emergency procedures and does not leave assigned residents without direction.
Emergency Priorities
Emergencies test your ability to act quickly within CNA scope. You protect the resident, call for help, and follow facility procedure.
Fire: RACE And PASS
| Mnemonic | Meaning |
|---|---|
| RACE | Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish or Evacuate |
| PASS | Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep |
Rescue anyone in immediate danger first. Then activate alarm or call for help, close doors to contain smoke, and use an extinguisher only if trained and safe.
Choking
If the resident can cough, speak, or breathe, encourage coughing and call for help. Do not interfere with a strong cough.
If the airway becomes severely blocked, follow facility training for abdominal thrusts or emergency response. Get help immediately.
Stroke And Heart Symptoms
Report these immediately:
- Face drooping.
- Arm weakness.
- Speech difficulty.
- Sudden confusion.
- Chest pain.
- Shortness of breath.
- Sudden severe headache.
- New one-sided numbness or weakness.
The CNA does not diagnose stroke or heart attack. The CNA recognizes danger signs and gets the nurse.
Seizures
Protect the resident from injury. Do not restrain the resident and do not put anything in the mouth. Move hazards away, call for help, and observe the event.
Afterward, report duration, movements, breathing, injuries, and recovery.
Exam Rule
In emergencies, choose the answer that preserves life and calls for licensed help. Do not choose delay, privacy over life safety, or independent treatment beyond CNA role.
What does RACE stand for in fire response?
A resident is having a seizure. What should the CNA do?