Ch. 21 Toxicology

Activated charcoal may be indicated for a pt who ingested: a. iron b. ethanol c. aspirin d. methanol

c

Common names for activated charcoal include all of the following, EXCEPT: a. Fructose b. Actidose c. InstaChar d. LiquiChar

a

our priority in caring for a pt w a surface contact poisoning is to:

avoid contaminating yourself

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

black stools

s/s of sympathomimetic drug OD include:

tachycardia

If the victim of a toxicologic emergency vomits, an EMT should _________.

use appropriate PPE and examine the vomitus for pill fragments or other clues for pt care

Substance abuse is MOST accurately defined as:

knowingly misusing a substance to produce a desired effect

Hypotension, hypoventilation, and pinpoint pupils would be expected following an overdose of:

oxycodone (Percocet)

Which of the following sets of VS would be the EMT MOST likely encounter in a pt w acute cocaine OD

BP 200/100 mm Hg; P 150 bpm

Airborne substances should be diluted with:

O

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

admin 15g of activated charcoal

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

are usually absorbed quickly into the body

You and your paramedic partner are caring for a pt who ingested codeine, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and hydrocodone (Vicodin). The pt is unresponsive, his breathing is slow and shallow, and his P is slow and weak. Treatment for this pt should include:

assisted ventilation and naloxone (Narcan)

you respond to a college campus for a young male who is acting strangely. after law enforcement has secured the scene, you enter the patients 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. treatment for this patient includes

attempting to calm him and giving him O if tolerated

As you enter the residence of a pt who has possibly OD, you should:

be alert for personal hazards

after administering activated charcoal to a patient, it is MOST important to

be alert for vomiting

Activated charcoal is given to patients who have ingested certain substances because it:

binds to the substance and prevents absorption

Victims of inhaled poisoning will require which of the following? a. An oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal device to maintain an airway b. Suctioning to clear the airway c. Transport to an emergencgy dept for evaluation

c

Which of the following regarding the Salmonella bacterium is correct? a. Symptoms of salmonellosis appear within 12 hours b. Refrigeration of food will prevent salmonellosis c. The salmonella bacteria itself causes food poisoning

c

How do poisons typically act to harm the body

changing the normal metabolism of cells or by destroying them

A 49 yo M presents w confusion, sweating, and visual hallucination. The pt's wife tells you that he is a heavy drinker and she thinks he had a seizure shortly before your arrival. This pt is MOST likely experiencing

delirium tremens

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

Most poisonings occur via the ________ route

ingestion

Of the 4 avenues of poisoning, generally _________ is the most worrisome in terms of treatments to the EMS provider

injection

A 25 yo M OD on heroin and in 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

When caring for a known alcoholic pt w severe trauma to the chest and abd,you should be concerned that:

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

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

is aware of the substance involved

An overdose of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, will MOST likely cause:

liver failure

Before giving activated charcoal, you should:

obtain approval from medical control

Heroin is an example of a(n):

opioid

The recommended treatment for absorbed or contact poisons includes _________.

safely removing or diluting the poisonous substance

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:

seizures and cardiac arrhythmia

You are dispatched to a local nursery for a 39 yo F who is sick. When you arrive, you find the pt 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 P and note that it is very slow. Immediate management for this pt should include:

thoroughly suctioning her oropharynx

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

tolerance

You receive a call to a residence where a man found his wife unresponsive on the couch. The pts RR is 8 bpm, her breathing is shallow, her HR is 40 bpm, and her P is weak, The husband hands you an empty bottle of hydrocodone (Vicodin), which was refilled the day before. You should:

ventilate her with a BVM