Toxicology EMT Chapter 21 Quiz

Signs and symptoms of a sympathomimetic drug overdose include:

tachycardia.

Activated charcoal may be indicated for a patient who ingested:

aspirin.

The major side effect associated with administration of activated charcoal is:

black stools.

Your priority in caring for a patient with a surface contact poisoning is to:

avoid contaminating yourself.

Substance abuse is MOST accurately defined as:

knowingly misusing a substance to produce a desired effect.

Airborne substances should be diluted with:

oxygen.

You and your paramedic partner are caring for a patient who ingested codeine, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and hydrocodone (Vicodin). The patient is unresponsive, his breathing is slow and shallow, and his pulse is slow and weak. Treatment for this patient should include: Select one: A. assisted ventilation and naloxone (Narcan). B. assisted ventilation and flumazenil (Romazicon). C. oxygen via a nasal cannula and atropine sulfate. D. high-flow oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask.

A. assisted ventilation and naloxone (Narcan).

Of the four avenues of poisoning, generally ___________ is the most worrisome in terms of treatment to the EMS provider. Select one: A. injection B. absorption C. ingestion D. inhalation

A. injection

When caring for a known alcoholic patient with severe trauma to the chest and abdomen, you should be concerned that: Select one: A. internal bleeding may be profuse because prolonged alcohol use may impair the blood's ability to clot. B. delirium tremens (DTs) are commonly induced by physical trauma and can lead to life-threatening seizures. C. long bone fractures are likely because chronic alcohol consumption weakens the structure of the bones. D. signs and symptoms of shock may be masked by the stimulant effects produced by alcohol.

A. internal bleeding may be profuse because prolonged alcohol use may impair the blood's ability to clot.

An overdose of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, will MOST likely cause: Select one: A. liver failure. B. kidney failure. C. gastric ulcers. D. CNS depression.

A. liver failure.

Hypotension, hypoventilation, and pinpoint pupils would be expected following an overdose of: Select one: A. oxycodone (Percocet). B. ecstasy. C. amphetamine sulfate (Benzedrine). D. crack cocaine.

A. oxycodone (Percocet).

Which of the following sets of vital signs would the EMT MOST likely encounter in a patient with acute cocaine overdose? Select one: A. BP, 180/100 mm Hg; pulse, 50 beats/min B. BP, 200/100 mm Hg; pulse, 150 beats/min C. BP, 190/90 mm Hg; pulse, 40 beats/min D. BP, 60/40 mm Hg; pulse, 140 beats/min

B. BP, 200/100 mm Hg; pulse, 150 beats/min

How do poisons typically act to harm the body? Select one: A. By causing a slowing of nearly all bodily functions B. By changing the normal metabolism of cells or by destroying them C. By interfering with normal neurologic function D. By causing burns and damage to either external or internal organs

B. By changing the normal metabolism of cells or by destroying them

Which of the following statements regarding the Salmonella bacterium is correct? Select one: A. The Salmonella bacterium produces toxins that cause food poisoning. B. The Salmonella bacterium itself causes food poisoning. C. Symptoms of salmonellosis appear within 12 hours. D. Refrigeration of food will prevent salmonellosis.

B. The Salmonella bacterium itself causes food poisoning.

Victims of inhaled poisoning will require which of the following? Select one: A. Suctioning to clear the airway B. Transport to an emergency department for evaluation C. Ventilation with a bag-valve mask D. An oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal device to maintain an airway

B. Transport to an emergency department for evaluation

Which of the following questions would be LEAST pertinent during the initial questioning of a patient who ingested a substance? Select one: A. How long ago was the substance taken? B. Why was the substance ingested? C. What type of substance was taken? D. How much of the substance was taken?

B. Why was the substance ingested?

As you enter the residence of a patient who has possibly overdosed, you should: Select one: A. quickly gain access to the patient. B. be alert for personal hazards. C. look for drug paraphernalia. D. observe the scene for drug bottles.

B. be alert for personal hazards.

Activated charcoal is given to patients who have ingested certain substances because it: Select one: A. decreases absorption of poisons into the lungs. B. binds to the substance and prevents absorption. C. is a direct antidote for many toxic substances. D. induces vomiting and empties the stomach.

B. binds to the substance and prevents absorption.

In an apparent suicide attempt, a 19-year-old female ingested a full bottle of amitriptyline (Elavil). At present, she is conscious and alert and states that she swallowed the pills approximately 30 minutes earlier. Her blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg, her pulse is 140 beats/min and irregular, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth. When transporting this patient, you should be MOST alert for: Select one: A. acute respiratory depression. B. seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. C. an increase in her blood pressure. D. a sudden outburst of violence.

B. seizures and cardiac arrhythmias.

The recommended treatment for absorbed or contact poisons includes _________. Select one: A. neutralizing the poisonous substance with a chemical B. transporting the patient to the emergency department with the poisonous substance in place C. safely removing or diluting the poisonous substance D. collecting and transporting the poisonous substance to the emergency department for identification

C. safely removing or diluting the poisonous substance

You receive a call to a residence where a man found his wife unresponsive on the couch. The patient's respiratory rate is 8 breaths/min, her breathing is shallow, her heart rate is 40 beats/min, and her pulse is weak. The husband hands you an empty bottle of hydrocodone (Vicodin), which was refilled the day before. You should: Select one: A. perform a rapid head-to-toe exam. B. apply oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask. C. ventilate her with a BVM. D. contact the poison control center.

C. ventilate her with a BVM.

Most poisonings occur via the __________ route. Select one: A. injection B. absorption C. inhalation D. ingestion

D. ingestion

Heroin is an example of a(n): Select one: A. hypnotic. B. sympathomimetic. C. cholinergic. D. opioid.

D. opioid.

If the victim of a toxicologic emergency vomits, an EMT should _________. Select one: A. have the patient enclose the vomitus in a container and take it to the emergency department. B. not approach the vomitus. C. safely dispose of the vomitus as soon as possible and decontaminate the vehicle as necessary. D. use appropriate personal protective equipment and examine the vomitus for pill fragments or other clues for patient care.

D. use appropriate personal protective equipment and examine the vomitus for pill fragments or other clues for patient care.

Your paramedic partner administers atropine to a 49-year-old male with bradycardia. Which of the following side effects would you expect the patient to experience?

Dry mucous membranes

Common names for activated charcoal include all of the following, EXCEPT:

Fructose.

A 4-year-old, 15-kg male ingested an unknown quantity of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The child's mother states that she does not know when the ingestion occurred. The child is conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. The EMT should:

administer 15 g of activated charcoal.

In general, injected poisons are impossible to dilute or remove because they:

are usually absorbed quickly into the body.

You respond to a college campus for a young male who is acting strangely. After law enforcement has secured the scene, you enter the patient's dorm room and find him sitting on the edge of the bed; he appears agitated. As you approach him, you note that he has dried blood around both nostrils. He is breathing adequately, his pulse is rapid and irregular, and his blood pressure is 200/110 mm Hg. Treatment for this patient includes:

attempting to calm him and giving him oxygen if tolerated.

After administering activated charcoal to a patient, it is MOST important to:

be alert for vomiting.

A 49-year-old male presents with confusion, sweating, and visual hallucinations. The patient's wife tells you that he is a heavy drinker and she thinks he had a seizure shortly before your arrival. This patient is MOST likely experiencing:

delirium tremens.

A 25-year-old man overdosed on heroin and is unresponsive. His breathing is slow and shallow and he is bradycardic. He has track marks on both arms. The EMT should:

insert a nasal airway and ventilate with a BVM.

The poison control center will be able to provide you with the most information regarding the appropriate treatment for a patient with a drug overdose if the center:

is aware of the substance that is involved.

Before giving activated charcoal, you should:

obtain approval from medical control.

You are dispatched to a local nursery for a 39-year-old female who is sick. When you arrive, you find the patient lying on the floor. She is semiconscious, has copious amounts of saliva coming from her mouth, and is incontinent of urine. You quickly feel her pulse and note that it is very slow. Immediate management for this patient should include:

thoroughly suctioning her oropharynx.

A person who routinely misuses a substance and requires increasing amounts to achieve the same effect is experiencing:

tolerance.