MEP is of the utmost importance to you, your staff, your patients and the facility; and it is vital that each member becomes familiar with both the acronym and the message. MEP is the heartbeat of the rescue operation. The Six Links of Survival™ covers every topic necessary for readying a dental unit to competently handle a crisis; it is the culmination of decades of research and literature on the topic. Six Links of Survival™ training promises your patients and staff the most comprehensive, up-to-date MEP knowledge and skills in the industry.

Basic Life Support (BLS) is imperative. Every dentist must complete the BLS for the Healthcare Provider course that is equivalent to those offered by both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross (ARC). BLS is to be taken at least once every two years under the advisory of the AHA which holds this as the maximum interim duration. Depending on the patient mix and patient acuity of the facility, more frequent reviews may be appropriate.
The dentist is the team leader, and when a medical emergency occurs, is expected to guide with efficiency and effectiveness. MEP training must include this sense of importance and urgency in order for the entire team to grasp the gravity of this preparatory instruction.

Highlights

Over the period of two years, a dentist shall take one or more courses on medical emergencies. The sum of the course(s) over the two-year period should cover all of the topics in the following three areas:

A review of normal physiology with an emphasis on the systems that play important roles during a medical emergency

• Peripheral Nervous System
• Cardiovascular System
• Respiratory System

The Six “P’s” of Preparation for a medical emergency

1. Prevention: proper use of a medical history
2. Personnel: staffing requirements and task pre-assignments
3. Products: monitors, AEDs and airway adjuncts
4. Protocols: office manuals to develop a planned response
5. Practice: ongoing training and review
6. Pharmaceuticals: having the proper medication on hand

Recognition and response to the C.O.R.E. 16 (Critical Office Resuscitation Emergencies) common to dental offices

1. Syncope
2. Angina
3. Myocardial Infarction
4. Cardiac Arrest
5. Hypertension
6. Hypotension
7. Asthma
8. Anaphylaxis
9. Hyperventilation
10. Allergic Reactions
11. Diabetes (Hypoglycemia)
12. Seizures
13. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
14. Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)
15. Foreign Body Obstruction (FBO) with Airway Management
16. Local Anesthetic Toxicity

Although not universally available, dentists should favor training that is participatory in nature with hands-on involvement.