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newSchoolWorks.com › VoTechWorks › Health & Personal Services › Limited X-Ray / Radiologic Technology › Patient Care in Radiologic Technology › Lesson 9
HLT-RADI64-05 · Lesson 9 · 26 clock hours · practice

Medical Emergencies in the Imaging Department

Objective. Students will demonstrate appropriate first-response actions for common imaging-department emergencies—including respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, syncope, seizure, and cardiac arrest—including CPR and AED use, within the radiographer's scope.

⚠ Pending professional review

This lesson, its worked examples and its practice questions has not yet been verified by a licensed clinician in the field or by a certification or approval body. It is a study draft and may contain errors. Do not use it to make decisions about any patient or medication. Always follow your instructor, your supervising professional, and current official references and regulations.

VoTechWorks program approval and accreditation are still in progress. Credentials are issued only by the certifying bodies named in each program, after their own exams.

Medical Emergencies in the Imaging Department

Radiographers work in an environment where patients may arrive already ill, fasting, anxious, or medicated. Although the radiographer is not a first responder by training, you are often the first person at the patient's side when something goes wrong. Knowing how to recognize an emergency, respond within your scope, and activate the appropriate resources can be the difference between a good outcome and a catastrophic one.

Your Role and Scope of Practice

As a limited-scope or general radiographer, your first-response duties include: recognizing signs of distress, calling for help immediately, providing basic life support (BLS) until advanced personnel arrive, keeping the patient safe from further injury, and documenting everything accurately. You do not diagnose or administer medications unless a specific facility protocol authorizes it under physician supervision. Always follow your facility's emergency response plan and the chain of command.

Recognizing and Responding to Common Emergencies

Syncope (Fainting): The patient may report dizziness, nausea, or tunnel vision just before losing consciousness. Lower the patient to the floor or recline the table immediately to prevent a fall injury. Elevate the legs if there is no contraindication. Loosen tight clothing, ensure airway patency, and call for help. Monitor vital signs and do not leave the patient alone. Most vasovagal episodes resolve quickly, but failure to recover or loss of pulse escalates to a cardiac emergency.

Seizure: Do not restrain the patient. Clear the area of hard objects, protect the head with padding, and position the patient on their side (recovery position) after convulsive movements stop to protect the airway from secretions. Time the seizure. Call for help. Never place anything in the patient's mouth. After the seizure, assess responsiveness and breathing. If the patient does not breathe or has no pulse, begin CPR.

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): Common in diabetic patients who fasted before imaging. Signs include diaphoresis (sweating), shakiness, confusion, pallor, and rapid heart rate. A conscious, cooperative patient who can swallow may receive oral glucose per facility protocol. An unresponsive patient must not receive anything by mouth—call emergency personnel immediately. Document the time of symptom onset and all actions taken.

Respiratory Distress: The patient may show rapid or labored breathing, use of accessory muscles, cyanosis (bluish discoloration around the lips), pursed-lip breathing, or inability to speak in full sentences. Sit the patient upright if possible (high Fowler's position), ensure supplemental oxygen is available for trained personnel to administer, and call for help. Remain calm and reassure the patient. Do not leave them unattended.

Unresponsive Patient / Cardiac Arrest: Tap and shout to check responsiveness. If no response, call out loudly for help and activate the facility emergency response system (typically a code call). Check for a pulse and normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. If absent, begin high-quality CPR and retrieve the AED.

High-Quality CPR: Key Points

High-quality CPR is the most critical skill in this lesson. For an adult:

AED Use

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can analyze the heart rhythm and deliver a shock if indicated. Steps:

1. Power on the AED.

2. Attach pads to bare skin: one pad below the right collarbone, one on the left side of the chest below the armpit.

3. Allow the AED to analyze—ensure no one is touching the patient.

4. If a shock is advised, ensure the area is clear, announce loudly, and press the shock button.

5. Immediately resume CPR after the shock for the next 2-minute cycle.

6. If no shock is advised, resume CPR and follow AED prompts.

Documentation After an Emergency

Accurate documentation is a professional and legal obligation. Complete an incident-response form as soon as the patient is stable and care has been transferred. Include: the date and time the emergency was recognized, the patient's initial and subsequent condition, each action taken and the time of that action, personnel notified (name and role), and the patient's response to interventions. Use objective, factual language. Do not alter the record after the fact.

Safety Reminders

Key terms9

SyncopeA temporary loss of consciousness caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, commonly called fainting; often preceded by dizziness, pallor, and nausea.
HypoglycemiaAbnormally low blood glucose, causing symptoms such as diaphoresis, shakiness, confusion, and pallor; a common imaging-department emergency in fasting diabetic patients.
High-quality CPRCardiopulmonary resuscitation performed with compressions at 100–120 per minute, depth of at least 2 inches, full chest recoil, minimal interruptions, and proper rescue breaths.
AED (Automated External Defibrillator)A portable device that analyzes cardiac rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to restore normal rhythm in cases of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
Recovery positionLateral (side-lying) positioning of an unconscious or post-seizure patient who is breathing, used to maintain an open airway and prevent aspiration.
Respiratory distressA state of difficulty breathing characterized by labored respirations, use of accessory muscles, altered oxygen saturation, or cyanosis, requiring immediate intervention.
DiaphoresisExcessive sweating, often a sign of a physiologic stress response; associated with hypoglycemia, syncope, and cardiac events.
Scope of practiceThe procedures, actions, and processes a healthcare worker is permitted to perform based on their specific education, certification, and applicable state law.
Incident reportA formal facility document recording the details of an unexpected patient event, including time, condition, actions taken, and personnel notified; a legal and quality-assurance record.
In class: CPR and AED skills practice on manikins: each student performs a full two-minute cycle of adult CPR with correct compression depth and rate, delivers rescue breaths, and operates the AED trainer through one complete shock sequence. · Station rotation through five emergency scenarios (fainting, seizure, severe hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, unresponsive patient); at each station students verbalize their assessment and initial actions using a scenario card. · Debrief and written documentation practice: after each scenario, complete an incident-response documentation form as required in a clinical setting, noting time, patient status, actions taken, and personnel notified.
Materials: Adult CPR manikins (one per two students), AED trainer, first-aid reference card, emergency scenario cards, incident-report documentation forms, disposable face shields, gloves
Check: CPR skills checklist: compression rate 100–120/min, depth at least 2 inches, full recoil between compressions, and correct AED sequence all required for pass; scenario debrief graded on critical actions verbalized—90% of critical actions required per scenario.

Practice check8

Answer each question, then check it. Nothing is recorded; this is your own practice.

Patient Care
1. A patient undergoing a chest X-ray suddenly says she feels dizzy and her vision is going dark. What is the radiographer's FIRST priority?
Patient Care
2. During a seizure, which action by the radiographer is MOST appropriate?
Patient Care
3. An adult patient is found unresponsive in the dressing room. The radiographer checks for responsiveness and finds no pulse and no normal breathing. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for single-rescuer adult CPR?
Patient Care
4. When using an AED, after the device advises a shock, what must the rescuer do IMMEDIATELY before pressing the shock button?
Patient Care
5. A diabetic patient who fasted before his imaging appointment is sweating profusely, trembling, and seems confused. He is conscious and able to follow commands. This presentation is MOST consistent with:
Patient Care
6. Which of the following describes the correct chest compression depth for adult CPR?
Patient Care
7. After a patient emergency has been resolved and care transferred, the radiographer must complete an incident report. Which element is ESSENTIAL to include?
Patient Care
8. A patient in moderate respiratory distress is conscious and alert. Which position is MOST appropriate while awaiting emergency personnel?
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