Ch 21, 32, 22, 20 Flashcards
any substance whose chemical; acton can damage body structures or impair body function
poison
a poisonous substance produced by bacteria, animals, or plants
toxins
the misuse of any substance to produce a desire effect
substance abuse
toxic or lethal dose of a substance
overdose
4 routes of poison
ingestion
inhalation
absorption
injection
examples of inhaled poisons
natural gases, sewer gas, certain pesticides, carbon monoxide, and chlorine
s/s of absorbed poisons
a history of exposure
liquid or powder on a patients skin
burns, itches, irritation, redness of the skin
typical odors of the substances
what to do if someone has been exposed to a dry powder?
brush off chemical from skin and clothing then flush the skin with water for 20 minutes
a form, provided by manufacturers and compounders of chemicals, containing info about chemical composition, physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, emergency response, and waste disposal of a specific material
material safety data sheet (MSDS)
s/s of ingested poison
burns around the mouth, gastrointestinal pain, vomitus, cardiac dysrhythmias, or seizures
how to determine the nature of poison?
take suspicious materials, containers., vomitus to the hospital (save the vomitus)
examples of injected poisons
intravenous drug abuse and envenomation such as insects, arachnids, and reptiles
s/s of injected poisons
weakness, dizziness, fever, chills, and unresponsiveness or the patient may be easily excited
the need for increasing amounts of a drug to obtain the same effect
tolerance
know drug users have a fairly high incidence of serious and undiagnosed infections such as:
HIV and hepatitis
what is alcohol?
a powerful CNS depressant
what can alcohol cause to a patient?
aggression, inappropriate behavior, and lack of coordination
a severe withdrawal syndrome seen in alcoholics who are deprived of ethyl alcohol
delirium tremens (DTs)
s/s of DTs
agitation/restlessness, fever, sweating, tremors, confusion and/or disorientation, delusions and/or hallucinations and seizures
a drug that produces sleep or altered mental status
narcotic
a type of narcotic medication used to relieve pain
opioid
a subset of the opioid family, and refers to natural, non-synthetic opioids
opiate
s/s of opioid overdose
are a CNS depressant and can cause severe respiratory distress, nausea, vomiting, may lead to hypotension, unconsciousness, cyanosis, pinpoint pupils
an antidote that reverses the effects of opiate or opioid overdose
naloxone (narcan)
indications of activated charcoal
medication OD
contraindications of activated charcoal
ingestion of an acid, alkali, or petroleum
patient w/ decreased LOC and unable to swallow
activated charcoal dosage for an adult and for children?
adult: 25 to 50g
children: 12.5 to 25 g
s/s of aspirin OD
nausea/vomiting, hyperventilation, ringing in ears, confusion, seizures
treatment for sedative-hypnotics OD patients
create patent airway
assist ventilations
provide prompt transport
examples of narcotics (opiates)
morphine
codeine
methadone
s/s of sedative-hypnotics OD
slurred speech, sedation or coma, hypoventilation, hypotension
s/s of sympathomimetics OD
hypertension, tachycardia, dilated pupils, agitation or seizures, hyperthermia
CNS stimulants that mimic the effects of the sympathetic nervous system
sympathomimetics
a highly toxic, colorless, flammable gas with a distinctive rotten-egg odor
hydrogen sulfide
s/s of chronic exposure to hydrogen sulfide
inability to smell the gas, nausea/vomiting, confusion, dyspnea, loss of consciousness, seizures, shock, coma, and cardiac arrest
why are acute cocaine overdoes a genuine emergency?
patients are at high risk for seizures, cardiac dysrhythmia and stroke
what chemical produces its high in marijuana ?
THC
a variety of herbal incense or smoking blends that resemble THC and produce a similar high
synthetic marijuana or “spice”
alter a persons sensory perceptions
hallucinogens
types of hallucinogens
LSD, mushrooms, PCP (angel dust), mescaline and peyote
s/s of hallucinogens
separate user from reality
hypertension, tachycardia, anxiety, and paranoia
medications that block the parasympathetic nerves
anticholinergic agents
types of anticholinergic
atropine, benadryl, jimsonweed,
medications that overstimulate the normal body functions controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system
cholinergic agents
type of cholinergic
organophosphate insecticide
3 things PCP does
causes anger/aggression
stimulates adrenal glands (makes a bit stronger)
doesn’t feel any pain
s/s of PCP
will look crazy, dilated pupils, horizontal nystagmus
pupils move side to side very rapidly
horizontal nystagmus
what is DUMBELS?
Diarrhea Urination Miosis (contraction of pupils) Bradycardia, Bronchiospasm Emesis Lacrimation (excessive tearing) Seizures, Salivation, Sweating
what is SLUDGEM?
Salivation, Sweating Lacrimation Urination Defecation, Drooling, Diarrhea Gastric upset and cramps Emesis Muscle twitching/Miosis
what is the duo dote auto injector?
single auto injector that contains 2mg of atropine and 600mg of pralidoxime
a condition characterized by severe gastrointestinal symptoms within 72 hours of ingestion
salmonella
a quick to grow and produce toxins in food that have ben prepared in advance and kept too long
staphylococcus
the most severe form of toxin ingestion, often-fatal disease usually results from eating improperly canned food
botulism
treatment for plant poisoning
assess airway and vital signs
notify regional poison center
take plant to the ED
provide prompt transport
psychiatric emergency includes patients of all ages who exhibit agitated, violent, or uncooperative behavior or who are a danger to themselves or others
behavioral crisis
a temporary or permanent dysfunction of the brain caused by a disturbance in the physical or physiologic functioning of the brain tissue
organic brain syndrome
a physiological disorder that impairs bodily function when the body seems to be structurally normal
functional disorders
types of functional disorders
schizophrenia, anxiety conditions and depression
a complex, difficult to identify mental disorder
schizophrenia
s/s of schizophrenia
delusions, hallucinations, lack of interest in pleasure and erratic speech
a condition of impairment in cognitive function that can present with disorientation, hallucinations, or delusions
delirium
a behavior characterized by restless and irregular physical activity
agitation
s/s of agitated delirium
hyperactive irrational behavior
hypertension
tachycardia
dilated pupils
what is the single most significant factor that contributes to suicide ?
depression
s/s of PTSD
helplessness, anxiety, anger, and fear
the body exaggerated immune response to an internal or surface agent
allergic reaction
chemical substances released by the immune system in allergic reactions that are responsible for many of the symptoms of anaphylaxis
histamines
chemical substances that contribute to anaphylaxis, released by the immune system in allergic reactions
leukotrienes
an extreme allergic reaction that is life threatening and involves multiple organ systems; can rapidly result in shock and death
anaphylaxis
hives
urticaria
most common allegens
food, medication, plants, chemicals and insect bites/stings
what will patients experience in more severe cases of anaphylaxis ?
bronchospasm and wheezing and hypotension
how to remove and insect stinger?
scrape the skin with the edge of a sharp, stiff object
dosage for adults and children for an Epipen?
adults: .3 mg
child/infant: .15 mg
s/s of a black and brown widow bite
severe muscle cramping, nausea,respioratory distress and swelling around the site, damages nerve tissue (neurotoxin)
brown recluse side bite
tissue damage (hemotoxin or cytotoxin)
treatment for snakebites
splint and keep below heart
(DOT says to use constricting bands)
factors to consider during assessment of patient for exposure to hot or cold environment
physical condition
age
nutrition/hydratiomn
environmental conditions
the transfer of heat from a part of the body to a colder object or substance by direct contact
conduction
occurs when the heat is transferred to circulating air
convection
sweating cools the body
evaporation
causes heat loss, such as when person stands Iona cold room
radiation
causes body heat loss as warm air in the lungs is exhaled into the atmosphere and cooler air is inhaled
respiration
body temperature falls below 95 degrees
hypothermia
who is more susceptible for hypothermia ?
homeless, swimmers, geriatric, pediatric, and ill people
the skin may freeze whereas deeper tissue are unaffected
frostnip
core temp is greater than 93.2; patient is usually alert, shivering, pule/respiration rate are usually rapid
mild hypothermia
core temp is less than 90, shivering stops and muscular activity decreases
moderate hypothermia
core temp is less than 80, all cardiorespiratory activity may cease and patient may appear dead
severe hypothermia
occurs after prolonged exposure to cold water
immersion foot
the tissues are actually frozen
frostbite
a high core temp of 101 or higher
hyperthermia
painful muscle spasms that occur after vigorous exercise
heat cramps
a heat emergency in which a significant amount of fluid and electrolyte loss occurs because of heavy sweating
heat exhaustion
s/s of heat exhaustion
dizziness, weakness, cold clammy skin, normal vital signs although pulse is rapid and weak, normal or slightly elevated body temp
occurs when the body is subjected to more heat than it can handle
heat stroke
patients with heat stroke have what?
hot dry flushed skin
general management of cold emergencies
remove from cold environment
handle gently
don’t massage extremities
don’t let walk, eat, or smoke
frostbitten extremity treatment
cushion and splint
when to assume spinal injuries in submersion incidents?
if it was resulted from a diving mishap or fall from significant height, patient is conscious but reports weakness, paralysis or numbness or unconscious
treatment for heat stroke
move patient out of hot environment
apply cold packs to armpits neck and groin
what are decent problems caused by ?
the sudden pressure on the body as the person dives deeper into the water
a condition involving bubbles of air in the blood vessels
air embolism
s/s of air embolism
blotching, froth, dyspnea, dizziness, nausea, dysphasia, coughing, cyanosis, difficulty with vision, irregular pulse and cardiac arrest, paralysis, coma
a painful condition seen in divers who ascend too quickly; in which gas forms bubbles in blood vessels and other tissues (“bends”)
decompression sickness
caused by the difference between the surrounding atmospheric pressure and the total gas pressure in various tissues, fluids, and cavities of the body
dynamism injuries
what are coral snakes ?
neurotoxin
pit vipers are considered what type of snakes?
hemotoxin or cytoxin
what are pit vipers ?
rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths
scorpion stings are what?
neurotoxin
s/s of a pit viper bite
severe burning pain at the site of the injury followed by swelling and blue discoloration
mild lighting burn
loss of consciousness, amnesia, confusion, tingling, burns
moderate lighting burns
seizures, respiratory arrest, dysrhthmias, superficial burns
severe lightning burns
cardiac arrest
what is HACE?
high altitude cerebral edema
what is HAPE?
high altitude pulmonary edema
when is oxygen diminished in the air ?
altitudes above 8,000 ft
diminished oxygen from high altitude can cause what?
acute mountain sickness
treatment for HAPE/HACE
provide oxygen, descend to a lower environment, prompt transport
