poisoning Flashcards
what are 4 routes of poisoning?
- ingestion
- swallowed and entered through digestive system - inhalation
- breathe in toxic gas or fumes - absorption
- enters the body through the skin and body tissues - injection
- enters the body through bikes, stings, or hypodermic syringes
what is poisoning?
- sudden illness brought on by external substances entering the body.
general s/s of poisoning of a scene?
- odors
- flames/smoke
- damaged plants
general s/s of poisoning of a patient?
- nausea/ vomitting
- chest/ abdominal pain
- difficulty breathing
- altered LOR
- seizures
- burns on/ around the mouth
- diarrhea
- rash
what questions would you ask someone if you suspect they have been exposed to poisoning?
- what type of poison was it?
- how did it occur? (inhalation, injection, etc)
- when did it occur?
- do you know how much of the poison?
how do you treat someone who has been poisoned?
- call 911 ask for poison control.
what is known as the silent killer of inhaled poisoning?
- carbon monoxide, odorless, colourless, tasteless gas. CO2 replaces O2 in the body, depriving the body of O2.
3 absorbed poisons in BC?
poison Ivy, sumac, Oak.
s/s of absorbed poisoning?
- itching
- red rash
- swelling
- bumps, streaking and weeping blisters
s/s of a black widow bite?
- raised, round, red mark
- restlessness and anxiety
- headache, dizziness
- excessive sweating
- cramping in muscles, back, shoulder.
s/s of a brown recluse bite?
- slight stinging sensation
- blood filled blister that appears within 2-8 hours
- a bulls-eye pattern around the bite
3 venomous snakes in canada?
- northern pacific rattlesnack
- massasauga rattlesnack
- prairie rattlesnake
how do you treat someone who has suffered injection poisoning?
- position person where the item is below the heart.
- if bite is on a limb then remove jewelry and tight clothing.
- cover the bite with a clean, sterile, dry dressing.
what is the difference between misuse and abuse?
- misuse is any substance that is taken to affect the function of the body.
- abuse is a drug used to prevent or treat a disease or condition
what are 3 categories of substance misuse and abuse?
- stimulans
- depressants
- hallucinogens
what is stimulants? and name 5 examples?
- stimulants produce temporary feeling of alertness, and improve task performance.
1. asthma inhalers
2. caffeine
3. cocain
4. methamphetamine
5. nicotine.
5 s/s of stimulants misuse or abuse?
- moist of flushed skin
- tachypnea
- tachycardia
- chest pain
- high blood pressure.
what are hallucinogens?
3 examples?
- cause change in mood sensation
- person may feel irritated or threatened if someone tries to help.
1. lysergic acid diethylamide
2. mushrooms
3. phencylidine.
what are depressants?
5 examples?
- affect CNS and slow down physical and mental activity. these often will cause relieve anxiety, impair coordination or judgement, relieve pain and relax muscles
1. alcohol
2. barbiturates
3. narcotics
4. benzodiazepines
5. opioids
what are 3 types of opioids?
- heroin
- fentanyl
- morphine
what causes opioids to be pose high risk?
- opioids are high risk because they bind to receptors in the brain that control respiration, rapidly causing respiration arrest.
s/s of someone who is on opioids?
- severe reduced level of responsiveness
- slow or absent pulse
- slow or absent respirations
- skin will be cold, pale, blue ish
- vomiting.
4 ways that opioids can poison someone?
- mixing opioids w/ other drugs
- change in tolerance, leading to increased sensitivity.
- previous experience with non-fatal opioids poisoning.
- variation in strength, content and or supplier of stress drugs.
