Being prepared for medical emergencies can be a lifesaver.

Staff training

Emergencies can happen at any time in dental office settings. Therefore, it is a good idea to ensure that every staff member be thoroughly familiar with emergency equipment and your protocol for dealing with emergencies. Staff meetings are an ideal time to review equipment use and storage, especially for staff who are not usually involved with direct patient treatment.

Portable oxygen

Everyone in the office should know where the oxygen is stored, and it is important that it be easily accessible. If it is located in a locked area, all staff members should know where the key is kept.

• Emergency oxygen should be portable and able to reach even the most distant areas of the office. Nitrous oxide systems that are plumbed into the building do not meet this criterion. Portable nitrous oxide systems may not always contain an adequate amount of oxygen needed during an emergency. It is a good idea for offices that use portable systems to have additional full oxygen bottles on hand.
• The oxygen tank should always be full and checked periodically throughout the year. All staff should know where the handle is and how to open the valve to check the pressure.
• All staff should know how to operate the nosepiece (positive pressure mask) that is connected to a portable oxygen tank, or an Ambu bag, and how to supply oxygen to a patient in an emergency situation.

Medical Kits

• All staff members should know where the emergency medical kit is kept. If it is in a locked area, all staff should have access to the key.
• The kit should include an easy method for tracking when items should be replaced, such as a label on the outside of the kit that lists each item and its expiration date. The expiration dates should be updated when fresh items replace expired ones. Alternatively, the office could subscribe to a service that tracks expiration dates and sends new supplies to replace ones that are about to expire.

The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs recommends the following medical emergency kit items:

• epinephrine 1:1000 (injectable; preloaded syringes are easiest and safest)
• histamine blocker (injectable; preloaded syringes are easiest and safest)
• nitroglycerin (sublingual tablet or aerosol spray)
• bronchodilator (asthma inhaler such as Albuterol)
• sucrose/glucose source (candy bar, fruit drink)
• aspirin (chewable baby aspirin)