Chapter 25 - Poisoning and Overdose Emergencies

Poison

Any substance that can harm the body by alternating cell structure or functions

Toxin

A poisonous substance secreted by bacteria, plants, or animals

Ingested poisons

Poisons that are swallowed

Inhaled poisons

Poisons that are breathed in

Absorbed poisons

Poisons that are taken into the body through unbroken skin

Volatile

Able to change very easily from a liquid into a gas

Injected poisons

poisons that are inserted through the skin

Activated Charcoal

A substance that absorbs many poisons and prevents them from being absorbed by the body

Activated charcoal use in contraindicated when…

A patient cannot protect their airway, patients who have ingested acids or alkalis, patients who have swallowed gasoline

Dilution

Thinning down or weakening by mixing with something else

Antidote

A substance that will neutralize the poison or its effects

Withdrawl

Condition in which the patient’s body reacts severely when deprived of an abused substance

Delirium Tremens (DTs)

Severe reaction that can be part of alcohol withdrawal, characterized by sweating, trembling, anxiety, and hallucinations. Can lead to death if untreated.

Substance Abuse

Term that indicates a chemical substance is being taken for other-than-therapeutic (medical) reasons

Opioids

Class of drugs that affects the nervous system and changes many normal body activities.

Uppers

Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine that affect the central nervous system and excite the user

Downers

Class of drugs that depress the CNS

Hallucinogens

Mind-altering drugs that act on the CNS to produce excitement and distortion of perceptions

Volatile Chemicals

Vaporizing compounds such as cleaning fluid that are breathed in to produce a high

The first thing you should do when treating a patient who has absorbed poison is…

Take standard precautions

Poisons that enter through the eye should be treated​ by:

Flushing with clean water

A sign of alcohol withdrawal is…

Tachycardia

What is the most important part of treatment for a patient suffering from an absorbed poison exposure?

Get the poison off the skin or out of the eye

You respond to the scene of a construction site. On​ arrival, you find a female patient complaining of pain and irritation in both arms. You note a​ dry, powder-like substance all over her arms. Which of the following actions would be your first​ priority?

Ensure that the patient’s airway is patent and that she did not inhale any of the powder

Which of the following is an acute​ life-threatening complication that may result from habitual alcohol​ abuse?

Alterations in the ability to maintain a regular blood glucose level

Delirium tremens is a condition characterized by​ sweating, trembling,​ anxiety, and:

Hallucinations

Your patient has been abusing alcohol for some​ time, and now has experienced a sudden withdrawal from it. You should most expect to​ see:

Confusion, restlessness, tremors, hypertension, and hallucinations

A patient who is exhibiting​ hallucinations, gross​ tremors, confusion,​ restlessness, hypertension, and tachycardia may be suffering​ from:

Alcohol withdrawal

Your patient presents with seizures and DTs from acute alcohol withdrawal. You​ should:

Make the patient a high transport priority

All of the following would indicate opiate abuse EXCEPT

Rapid respirations

Which of the following medications is an opioid?

Oxycodone

Your patient has taken a quantity of an unknown substance. The patient is beginning to lose consciousness and has shallow breathing. From the choices below, which substance was most likely taken by the patient?

Heroin