poisoning

Question 1

what are 4 routes of poisoning?

Answer 1

1. ingestion
   - swallowed and entered through digestive system
2. inhalation
   - breathe in toxic gas or fumes
3. absorption
   - enters the body through the skin and body tissues
4. injection
   - enters the body through bikes, stings, or hypodermic syringes

Question 2

what is poisoning?

Answer 2

• sudden illness brought on by external substances entering the body.

Question 3

general s/s of poisoning of a scene?

Answer 3

• odors
• flames/smoke
• damaged plants

Question 4

general s/s of poisoning of a patient?

Answer 4

• nausea/ vomitting
• chest/ abdominal pain
• difficulty breathing
• altered LOR
• seizures
• burns on/ around the mouth
• diarrhea
• rash

Question 5

what questions would you ask someone if you suspect they have been exposed to poisoning?

Answer 5

1. what type of poison was it?
2. how did it occur? (inhalation, injection, etc)
3. when did it occur?
4. do you know how much of the poison?

Question 6

how do you treat someone who has been poisoned?

Answer 6

• call 911 ask for poison control.

Question 7

what is known as the silent killer of inhaled poisoning?

Answer 7

• carbon monoxide, odorless, colourless, tasteless gas. CO2 replaces O2 in the body, depriving the body of O2.

Question 8

3 absorbed poisons in BC?

Answer 8

poison Ivy, sumac, Oak.

Question 9

s/s of absorbed poisoning?

Answer 9

• itching
• red rash
• swelling
• bumps, streaking and weeping blisters

Question 10

s/s of a black widow bite?

Answer 10

• raised, round, red mark
• restlessness and anxiety
• headache, dizziness
• excessive sweating
• cramping in muscles, back, shoulder.

Question 11

s/s of a brown recluse bite?

Answer 11

• slight stinging sensation
• blood filled blister that appears within 2-8 hours
• a bulls-eye pattern around the bite

Question 12

3 venomous snakes in canada?

Answer 12

• northern pacific rattlesnack
• massasauga rattlesnack
• prairie rattlesnake

Question 13

how do you treat someone who has suffered injection poisoning?

Answer 13

• 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.

Question 14

what is the difference between misuse and abuse?

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

what are 3 categories of substance misuse and abuse?

Answer 15

• stimulans
• depressants
• hallucinogens

Question 16

what is stimulants? and name 5 examples?

Answer 16

• stimulants produce temporary feeling of alertness, and improve task performance.
  1. asthma inhalers
  2. caffeine
  3. cocain
  4. methamphetamine
  5. nicotine.

Question 17

5 s/s of stimulants misuse or abuse?

Answer 17

• moist of flushed skin
• tachypnea
• tachycardia
• chest pain
• high blood pressure.

Question 18

what are hallucinogens?
3 examples?

Answer 18

• cause change in mood sensation
• person may feel irritated or threatened if someone tries to help.
  1. lysergic acid diethylamide
  2. mushrooms
  3. phencylidine.

Question 19

what are depressants?
5 examples?

Answer 19

• 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

Question 20

what are 3 types of opioids?

Answer 20

• heroin
• fentanyl
• morphine

Question 21

what causes opioids to be pose high risk?

Answer 21

• opioids are high risk because they bind to receptors in the brain that control respiration, rapidly causing respiration arrest.

Question 22

s/s of someone who is on opioids?

Answer 22

• severe reduced level of responsiveness
• slow or absent pulse
• slow or absent respirations
• skin will be cold, pale, blue ish
• vomiting.

Question 23

4 ways that opioids can poison someone?

Answer 23

1. mixing opioids w/ other drugs
2. change in tolerance, leading to increased sensitivity.
3. previous experience with non-fatal opioids poisoning.
4. variation in strength, content and or supplier of stress drugs.