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Pledges

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Link 3: Mock Drills
Mock medical emergency drills are paramount for preparation. These should be performed on a monthly basis, with a set date and time to maintain consistency. Most importantly, the tone of the drill should be serious; otherwise, the likelihood is that the instruction will be undermined. Annual drills are not sufficient due to employee turnover and insufficient exposure to the material. The “once a year” mentality sets the staff up for failure instead of success.

Consider this: if you had to perform CPR/BLS/PALS/ACLS right now, would you be able to? What are the correct steps, life-saving tips – what first and when? If you are honest with yourself, there is a great chance that you will confront more questions than answers. Recertification is mandatory every two years; however, this minimum is far below optimal. AED use is a perfect example of this natural disparity: could you seamlessly operate this life-saving technology without pause?

The point is that training is a continual and repetitive process. This fact should be stressed in your offices. Mandatory attendance by all members should be expected and documented. Each member has a unique role in a medical emergency and should be expertly prepared to fill that need according to the office’s individual medical emergency response plan. This includes total participant knowledge of the plan itself, the contents and uses of the emergency drug kit, as well as the location and operation of the AED. It is also plausible that a member, including the dentist, may be unavailable; therefore, each member should be able to substitute in other positions and the emergency plan should flow without hindrance.

Highlights

  • Mock drills of medical emergencies should occur monthly but no less than every other month.

  • All of the following C.O.R.E. 16 (Critical Office Resuscitation Emergencies) common to dental offices should be covered within your mock drills:

    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

  • Mock drills should not be a mere lecture, but an opportunity for interaction of the staff with the dentist. Equipment used in a particular scenario should be demonstrated.

  • The date, topic covered and list of attendees should be documented.

Please Note:

Mock drills may be developed within the office or purchased from an outside vendor.