Size Up The Scene
The most important thing to do on a toxicology call.
What is establish scene safety?
An agent that produces false perceptions to any of the 5 senses.
What is a hallucinogen?
A chemical asphyxiant characterized by the odor of rotten eggs.
What is Hydrogen Sulfide?
One of the most common causes of food poisoning in the developed world, people are frequently exposed to this toxin due to poor food handling practices.
What is Salmonella?
The first step in decontaminating someone who is in a toxic environment.
What is remove the patient from the environment?
The misuse of any substance to produce a desired effect.
What is abuse?
A synthetic narcotic used to relieve pain that is highly addictive.
What is an opioid?
This emerging class of drugs, similar to MDMA, produces euphoria, mental sharpness and sexual arousal.
What are Synthetic Cathiones (Bath Salts)?
The need for increasing amounts of a drug to obtain the same effect.
What is tolerance?
Often the second step in patient decontamination, this action gets rid of 95% of contaminates.
What is remove the clothing?
When a patient takes a toxic dose of a substance.
What is an overdose?
This group of poisons, including gasoline & halogenated hydrocarbons, can cause hypoxia and caridac arrythmia.
What are inhalants?
This class of anticholinergic drugs has been largely replaced by modern SSRIs.
What are Tricyclic Antidepressants?
A severe withdrawal syndrome seen in alcoholics characterized by sweating, agitation and seizures.
What is Delirium Tremens?
Most absorbed and surface contact poisons that remain after clothing removal can be removed or diluted by doing this.
What is flush with copious amounts of water.
These are the 4 routes by which toxins can enter the body?
What are inhalation, absorption, ingestion and injection.
A group of substances that mimic the "fight-or-flight" effects of the nervous system.
What are Sympathomimetics?
This group of cholinergic agents produce signs/symptoms characterized by the accronym DUMBELS.
What are organophosphates or nerve agents?
This systemic asphyxiant gas kills by preventing O2 from bind to hemoglobin.
What is carbon monoxide?
The best place to find information about decontamination and treatment of exposure to a specific substance.
What are Safety Data Sheets?
The level of PPE required to enter an oxygen deficient atmosphere?
What is SCBA (or Level B+)?
A by-product of burning synthetic material, this substance is a main cause of death in patients suffering smoke inhalation.
What is cyanide or hydrogen cyanide?
Ingesting too much of this common household drug can cause nausea, vomiting and ringing in the ears.
What is Aspirin?
This class of drugs are CNS depressants that may cause amnesia, drowsiness and altered mental status.
What are Sedative Hypnotics?
Frequently used to prevent intestinal absorption of ingested poison, this medication is no longer carried on CT ambulances.
What is Activated Charcoal?