Medical Emergencies
Essential Drugs Kit
In the UK, the Resuscitation Council recommends this list of emergency drugs to be present in every general dental practice:
• Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray (400micrograms / dose)
• Salbutamol aerosol inhaler (100micrograms / actuation)
• Adrenaline injection (1:1000, 1mg/ml)
• Aspirin dispersible (300mg)
• Glucagon injection 1mg
• Oral glucose solution / tablets / gel / powder
• Midazolam - 5mg/ml or 10mg/ml (buccal or intranasal)
They further advise that:
• All drugs should be stored together in a purposely-designed 'Emergency Drug' storage container.
• Where possible drugs in solution should be in a pre-filled syringe.
• The use of intravenous drugs for medical emergencies in general dental practice is to be discouraged. Intramuscular, inhalational, sublingual, buccal and intranasal routes are all much quicker to administer drugs in an emergency.
Please note that other countries and authorities may recommend additional items.
Which emergency condition(s) might you need GTN for?
Which emergency condition(s) might you need Salbutamol for?
Which emergency condition(s) might you need Adrenaline for?
Which emergency condition(s) might you need Aspirin for?
Which emergency condition(s) might you need Glucagon for?
Which emergency condition(s) might you need Oral glucose solution / tablets / gel / powder for?
Which emergency condition(s) might you need buccal / intranasal Midazolam for?