CTE Healthcare Escape Room Activity (continued)
Student Instructions (Sample Handout Text):
1. Use the blood pressure cuff to take a few practice readings on your teammates.
This is to help you understand the realistic range of human blood pressure.
2. Review the patient chart provided. Look carefully at the BP values—some may seem
borderline, but only one is physiologically impossible.
3. When you find the incorrect entry, check the patient's ID number—it contains the 4-digit code needed to continue.
4. Submit that code to unlock the next station.
How the Puzzle Works:
• Students are encouraged to take BP readings on each other to calibrate their expectations—not to diagnose or match any
individual to a chart entry.
• The outlier BP might have:
– Diastolic pressure higher than systolic
– Pulse pressure too wide or narrow (e.g., 240/90 = pulse pressure of 150)
– Diastolic over 130 mmHg, which is rarely survivable
– Systolic under 70 mmHg in an alert adult
• Once they find the impossible entry, the patient ID yields a code (e.g., Patient D: 7812 => Code = 7812)
Jenna's BP of 80/110 is impossible—diastolic cannot be higher than systolic. So, CODE = 3147
How They "Escape" This Station:
• Students identify the medically impossible reading.
• Retrieve the patient's ID and use it as a 4-digit unlock code.
• If they choose incorrectly, give a mild penalty: "Patient data inconsistent—re-check chart for outliers."
Teacher Notes:
• Emphasize the focus on reasoning, not diagnosis.
• This format encourages students to explore normal BP ranges and use equipment confidently.
• You can rotate the "impossible" entry for different groups or sessions.
Name Age BP Symptoms Patient ID
Alex R. 42 122/80 Dizzy 9013
Maria K. 58 138/88 Chest pain 7812
Dev S. 70 160/99 Tired 5249
Jenna L. 33 80/110 Sweating 3147
Casey B. 50 132/84 Headache 6652
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