Medical Emergencies 2.75 CEs

Course Description:

Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office (2.75 CEs) David Isen, BSc, DDS As dental practitioners, we must be continually prepared to effectively manage a medical emergency. Our patients rely on our ability to do so. This, however, may lead to difficult predicaments because thankfully, dentists encounter medical emergencies infrequently. We therefore may not be proficient in handling these situations since we are not practiced in doing so. This course will review methods of reducing the likelihood that a medical emergency will occur by highlighting how to predict who may have a medical emergency and what that emergency might look like. As well, the use of emergency drugs will be discussed along with information regarding the most up-to-date protocols for basic cardiac life support and the use of an automated external defibrillator. Finally, specific emergency management will be reviewed and suggestions as to how to organize an emergency kit, to be prepared even months down the road, will be provided. Learning Objectives: -How to reduce the risk of a medical emergency. -How to assess vital signs and understand what they mean. -Current basic life support protocols. -Which drugs are appropriate for a dentist to stock in a medical emergency kit. -How and when to use medical emergency drugs. -How to manage specific medical emergencies for example syncope, hypoglycemia, stroke, -myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, asthma, local anesthetic overdose, seizure and allergy. Conflict of Interest / Financial Disclosure: N/A Recommended Audiences: G, S, DH, DA