Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

Which of the following indicates a potential obstruction in an airway emergency?

1. Sudden movements

2. Altered skin color

3. Unresponsiveness

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

In the context of airway emergencies, recognizing the signs of potential obstruction is critical for effective response and management. Each of the listed conditions indicates potential airway interference. Sudden movements can signify distress, as a person may be experiencing difficulty breathing or trying to cough in an attempt to clear an obstruction. This may involve shaking or thrashing about, indicating an instinctive response to clear the airway. Altered skin color is a physiological response to inadequate oxygen levels in the blood. This might present as cyanosis, particularly in the lips, face, or fingers, which suggests that the lungs are not adequately ventilating, often due to an obstruction in the airway. Unresponsiveness can also be a significant indicator of an airway emergency. When an individual is unresponsive, it often means they are not breathing effectively, potentially due to a complete obstruction of the airway. Each of these signs—sudden movements, altered skin color, and unresponsiveness—points to the possibility of an airway obstruction, highlighting the importance of assessing multiple signals to determine the severity of the emergency. Therefore, acknowledging that all these signs indicate a potential obstruction effectively underscores the need for immediate intervention in such scenarios.