Question

During a draw, the patient becomes unresponsive. What is the next action the phleb should take?

a) elevate the patients feet
b) check for breathing
c) alert medical personnel
d) start chest compressions

Answer 1

When a patient becomes unresponsive during a draw, check their breathing, then alert medical personnel and start chest compressions following proper CPR guidelines until professional help arrives.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient becomes unresponsive during a blood draw, a phlebotomist should immediately check for breathing to assess if the patient is in cardiac arrest and requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If the patient is not breathing or only gasping, the phlebotomist should then alert medical personnel and start chest compressions, following the current CPR guidelines. Proper hand placement for compressions is crucial. Hands should be placed on the sternum, specifically between the lines at T4 and T9, to manually compress the heart and maintain blood flow. Compressions should be at least 5 cm deep and at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, which coincides with the beat of “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees. CPR should continue until experienced healthcare professionals can take over.