Medical emergencies in dental practice: 1. The drug box, equipment and general approach.

UNLABELLED: Every dental practitioner needs a knowledge of the diagnosis and management of medical emergencies. This first paper, in a series of two, deals with the general aspects of emergency treatment, including basic principles applicable to all emergencies and a consideration of the management of cardiac arrest. The second paper deals with more specific aspects of medical emergency management. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: All dental practitioners require a knowledge of medical emergency management.