Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What is a contraindication for administering oral glucose?

1. History of seizures

2. Unconscious and inability to swallow

3. Diabetes and heart problems

4. Food allergies

The correct answer is: Unconscious and inability to swallow

Administering oral glucose is contraindicated primarily when a patient is unconscious and unable to swallow. This is crucial because giving oral glucose to someone who cannot protect their airway significantly increases the risk of aspiration. If a person is unconscious, they lack the necessary reflexes to swallow safely, which could lead to the glucose entering the airway rather than the esophagus, potentially causing choking or aspiration pneumonia. The other choices, while they may represent concerns in specific contexts, do not directly contraindicate the administration of oral glucose. For instance, a history of seizures may indicate a need for glucose if the individual is conscious and can swallow, as hypoglycemia can be a contributing factor to seizures. Diabetes and heart problems also do not automatically exclude a patient from receiving oral glucose unless they are unable to swallow. Food allergies are generally not a consideration for glucose, as glucose itself is not a protein that typically elicits allergic reactions.