4.4 Patient Education, First Aid & Emergency Procedures

Medical assistants serve as patient educators and must be prepared to respond to office emergencies. Both patient education techniques and emergency response procedures are tested on the RMA exam.

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Patient Education Principles

Effective Education Techniques

Health Literacy Considerations

• Nearly 36% of adults have limited health literacy
• Use materials written at a 5th-6th grade reading level
• Ask permission to educate: "Would it be helpful if I explained...?"
• Allow time for questions
• Provide instructions in the patient's primary language when possible
• Use pictorial aids for patients with low literacy

Nutrition Education

MyPlate Guidelines (USDA):

Macronutrients

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Emergency Procedures

CPR -- 2025 AHA Guidelines

Infant and child figures: 2025 AHA and AAP pediatric basic life support guidelines.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Use

1. Turn on the AED and follow voice prompts
2. Attach pads: One pad on the upper right chest, one on the lower left side
3. Clear the patient: Ensure no one is touching the patient during analysis
4. Deliver shock if advised by the AED
5. Resume CPR immediately after the shock for 2 minutes
6. Follow AED prompts for re-analysis

Choking (Foreign Body Airway Obstruction)

Conscious Adult/Child:

1. Ask "Are you choking?" -- if the patient cannot speak or has a weak or absent cough, act; if they can cough forcefully, encourage coughing
2. Call for help (activate the emergency response system)
3. Give 5 back blows (slaps between the shoulder blades), then 5 abdominal thrusts (stand behind the patient, fist just above the navel, quick inward and upward thrusts), per the 2025 AHA guidelines
4. Repeat cycles of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or the patient becomes unresponsive
5. In late pregnancy, or if you cannot reach around the abdomen, give 5 chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts
6. If unresponsive: lower to the ground, make sure 911 has been called, and begin CPR (look for a visible object in the mouth before giving breaths)

Conscious Infant:

1. Place infant face-down on your forearm (head lower than body)
2. Give 5 back blows between shoulder blades with heel of hand
3. Turn infant face-up, give 5 chest thrusts using the heel of one hand (2025 AHA guidelines)
4. Alternate until object is expelled or infant becomes unconscious

Bleeding Control

Burns

Burn first aid:

• Remove the source of the burn
• Cool with cool (not ice cold) running water for at least 10 minutes
• Cover with sterile, non-adherent dressing
• Do NOT apply butter, ice, or home remedies
• Do NOT break blisters
• Call EMS for large burns, facial burns, or full-thickness burns

Shock (Hypoperfusion)

Signs and symptoms:

• Pale, cool, clammy (diaphoretic) skin
• Rapid, weak (thready) pulse
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Altered mental status (confusion, anxiety, unresponsiveness)
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Nausea, thirst

Treatment:

1. Call EMS
2. Position patient in Trendelenburg (elevate feet) or flat if spinal injury suspected
3. Maintain body temperature (cover with blanket)
4. Do NOT give food or fluids
5. Monitor vital signs continuously

Anaphylaxis

Signs: Urticaria (hives), angioedema (facial/throat swelling), wheezing, dyspnea, hypotension, tachycardia, GI symptoms

Treatment:

1. Epinephrine (EpiPen) -- administer IM in the lateral thigh immediately
2. Call 911 / EMS
3. Position patient supine with legs elevated (unless breathing difficulty)
4. Monitor airway and breathing
5. Prepare for possible CPR

Syncope (Fainting)

Treatment:

1. Lower patient to the floor or lay flat
2. Elevate legs above heart level
3. Loosen tight clothing
4. Apply cool cloth to forehead
5. Check vital signs
6. If patient does not regain consciousness quickly, call EMS