Poisoning and overdose - Ambulance treatment

Question 1

There is a number of antidotes to poisoning carried by ambulance personnel. including:

Answer 1

-Naloxone for opioid overdose
- Atropine for organophosphorus
- Activated charcoal

Question 2

Activates charcoal

• Recommended by NICE, when a person who has self-poisoned presents to the ambulance service within 1 hour of ingestion is fully conscious and able to protect there own airway.
• However this should only be offered when the substance(s) ingested is/are likely to be absorbed by activated charcoal and when a person is considered to be at risk of significant harm.
• Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins and chemicals in the gut preventing their absorption. the charcoal has porus texture and negative electrical charge which causes it to attract positively charged molecules such as toxins and gases.