5.4 Medical Emergencies
Key Takeaways
- Conscious choking adult who cannot cough, speak, or breathe: give abdominal thrusts (Heimlich) just above the navel until the object clears or the person becomes unresponsive.
- During a seizure: protect from injury, clear hazards, never restrain or put anything in the mouth, time it, and turn the resident on their side when safe.
- For severe bleeding: apply firm direct pressure with a clean cloth, add more cloths without removing the first, and call the nurse immediately.
- An unresponsive resident is a true emergency — call for help / activate the code immediately, do not leave the resident, and report what you found.
- Call the nurse for changes within the facility's response; call 911 (or activate the emergency code) for unresponsiveness, no breathing, severe bleeding, choking that does not clear, or suspected stroke or cardiac event.
The CNA Role in Emergencies
Florida CNAs do not provide advanced treatment, but they are usually the first person at the bedside. The exam tests three things: recognizing an emergency, getting the right help fast, and giving correct basic care until the nurse or emergency team arrives. Staying calm and never leaving the resident alone are the constants.
Choking — Conscious Adult
| Sign | Correct Response |
|---|---|
| Can cough, speak, or breathe | Encourage forceful coughing — do not interfere |
| Cannot cough, speak, or breathe (clutching throat) | Give abdominal thrusts (Heimlich) immediately |
For abdominal thrusts: stand behind the resident, make a fist with the thumb side just above the navel and below the breastbone, grasp the fist with the other hand, and give quick inward and upward thrusts. Continue until the object is expelled or the resident becomes unresponsive. If the resident becomes unresponsive, lower them safely, call for help, and begin CPR if trained, checking the mouth for the object before breaths.
Syncope (Fainting)
If a resident feels faint, help them sit or lie down before they fall and stay with them. If a resident faints, do not try to catch them — guide them safely to the floor, position on the back, elevate the legs, check breathing, and call the nurse. Do not give food or water until the resident is fully alert.
Seizures, Bleeding, and the Unresponsive Resident
Seizure Response
| Do | Do Not |
|---|---|
| Stay calm and stay with the resident | Do not restrain the resident |
| Lower the resident to the floor if standing | Do not put anything in the mouth |
| Move furniture and hazards away | Do not try to stop the seizure |
| Note the start time and duration | Do not leave the resident alone |
| Turn on the side when safe (recovery position) | Do not give food or water until fully alert |
After the seizure, keep the resident on their side, check breathing, and report duration and observations to the nurse immediately.
Severe Bleeding
- Put on gloves if available — but do not delay life-threatening care to find them.
- Apply firm direct pressure with a clean cloth or dressing.
- Do not remove the first cloth; add more on top if it soaks through.
- Elevate the limb if there is no suspected fracture.
- Call the nurse immediately and stay with the resident.
The Unresponsive Resident
An unresponsive resident is a true emergency. Tap and shout to check responsiveness. If there is no response: call for help / activate the facility emergency code immediately, do not leave the resident, check for normal breathing, and begin CPR if trained and authorized while help is on the way. Give a clear report to the nurse or emergency team: what you found, when, and what you did.
When to Call the Nurse vs. 911
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Change in condition, mild complaint, abnormal vital sign | Report to the nurse promptly |
| Choking cleared by the resident's own coughing | Stay, monitor, report to the nurse |
| Unresponsive, not breathing, no pulse | Activate the emergency code / 911 immediately, start CPR if trained |
| Choking not cleared, severe uncontrolled bleeding | Call for emergency help / 911 immediately |
| Signs of stroke (sudden facial droop, arm weakness, slurred speech) | Call the nurse immediately, note the time symptoms started, 911 per facility protocol |
In a licensed Florida facility, the CNA's correct path for most events is to call the nurse, who decides on 911. For an unresponsive, non-breathing, or pulseless resident, the CNA activates the emergency response without delay — this is the one situation where waiting is wrong.
A resident eating lunch suddenly grabs their throat, cannot speak or cough, and is turning blue. What should the CNA do?
A CNA enters a room and finds a resident who does not respond to tapping or shouting and does not appear to be breathing normally. What is the priority action?