Poisoning Flashcards
Routes for poison
Ingestion
Inhalation
Absorption
Injection
S/S of poisoning (general)
Scene: odors
flames/smoke
open/empty/spilled/out-of-place containers
overturned/damaged plants
Patient: Nausea/vomiting
chest/abd. px
SOB
Altered LOR
Seizures
burns on/around mouth
diarrhea
rash
Key components of poisoning
Scene assessment
Remove casualty from source
Primary assessment
911: poison control centre, EMS (ask for PC they will give more info, follow their directions)
If you suspect patient poisoned- try to get the answers to these questions
What type of poison was it?
How did the contamination occur?
When did it occur?
Do you know the quantity of the poison?
Poisoning: Ingestion
call EMS ask for PC
PC may ask you to:
1. induce vomiting
2. use activated charcoal
3. give patient water to drink
ONLY DO under PC consent and direction
S/S of Ingestion poisoning
an open container of poison nearby
burns on mouth
Unusual odor
↑ saliva / abnormal colour
cramps, vomiting, diarrhea
seizures
Dizziness
Unresponsive
Burn sensations (mouth, throat, or stomach)
Poisoning: Inhaled
Call EMS ask for PC
protect yourself and patient (scene safe)
perform interventions for resp. arrest/distress
Carbon Monoxide poisonings: most common, deprives body of O2, hypoxia
Specific S/S of inhaled poisons
Resp. arrest/ distress/ dyspnea
irritated eyes, nose, or throat
dizziness
vomiting
seizures
cyanosis
Unresponsiveness
unusual smell in air/ on patients breath
Poisoning: absorbed
EMS/ask for PC
common causes:
1. poison ivy
2. poison sumac
3. poison oak
4. other dry and wet chemicals
Tx. apply a cream or ointment designed to reduce itching/blistering
suggest oral antihistamine
px. should be assessed by physician
If exposed to wet or dry chemicals, refer to the care for chemical burns
S/S of absorbed poisons
itching
red rash
swelling
bumps, streaking, and weeping blisters
Poisoning: Injected
EMS/ask for PC
most common = animal bites/stings
if animal present do not catch (take notes)
key = identifying any potential anti-venins
Injected - Stingers (bees/wasps)
only fatal if anaphylactic reaction
- examine the affected area to see if the stinger is embedded in the skin
Injected - spiders
only north american spiders that are venomous =
black widow
brown recluse
S/S of black widow and brown recluse bites
BLACK WIDOW
1. raised, round, red mark
2. cramping pain in the thighs, shoulders, and back abdominal muscles
3. restlessness and anxiety
4. dizziness
5. headache
6. excessive sweating
7. weakness
8. can range from mildly irritating to unbearable
BROWN RECULSE:
1. slight stinging sensation
2. a blood blister that appears within 2-8 hours
3. a bulls-eye pattern around the bite
Injected - snakes
most snakes in canada = not venomous but treat all snakebites as venomous
Place patient in RTD, call EMS and ask for poison control
1. keep injury site still
2. remove jewelry and tight clothing if bite on limb
3. wash the wound w/ water
4. cover the bite w/ a clean, sterile, dry dressing
Substance Misuse and Abuse
most common = ASA + sleeping pills
drug - any substance that is taken to affect the function of the body
medication - a drug used to prevent or treat a disease or condition
Categorizes of substance misuse and abuse
Stimulants
Depressants
Hallucinogens
Stimulants
affect CSN = speed up physical and mental activity
ingested (some absorbed or inhaled)
temporary feeling of alertness, improve task performance and prevent sleepiness
EX. asthma meds, meth, cocaine, crack, caffeine, nic
S/S:
in some instances, misuse or abuse can disrupt normal heart rhythms, cause resp emergencies and can be fatal
Hallucinogens
change mood sensations, thought, emotion and self-awareness
mid-altering effects such as panic, paranoid delusions, vivid hullucinations, prodound depression, tension and anxiety
person my be irrationl and feel threatened by attempted help
Depressants
affect CNS & slow down physical + mental activity
common medical purpose
depressants will relieve anxiety, promote sleep, depress respirations, relieve pain, relax muscles, impair coordination and judgment
Opioids
are a class of depressants that include morphine, heroin, and fentanyl
high risk of fatal overdose due to control of respiration and cause respiratory arrest
S/S of Opioid overdose
Severely reduced LOR or unresponsive
severely constricted pupils or rolled-back eyes
limp muscles
slow or absent pulse
slow or absent respiration, possible gurgling or snoring sounds
low SpO2
cold, pale, or blue skin, specially on nail beds and lips
vomiting
Risk for Opioid Poisoning
mixing drugs
change in tolerance or health leading to increase sensitivity to drugs as prescribed
previous experience with non-fatal opioid poisoning, leading to risk-taking behaviour
Variation in strength, content and/or supplier of their “street” drugs
Naloxone
Opioid Overdose treatment
if person is not breathing, or is displaying agonal respirations, immediately start compression only CRP
naloxone may be re-administered every 3-5 minutes if there is no improvement in the person’s conditions
Transfer of Care:
time, route, dose, change in condition
Designer Drugs
Manufactured or modified from other drugs or other common household products
no medicinal purposes
General Care for Misuse and substance abuse
not the time to pass judgement
form of poisoning, so follow the same protocol of care (EMS, poison control)
Ask bystandard:
What was taken, how much was taken, when was it taken
Be careful that someone may be irrational, aggressive, violent, or withdrawn
