Toxicology Flashcards
What is the most important thing to remember in regards to removing stingers?
Remove the stinger as soon as possible
Use a card to scrap the stinger out, do not use tweezers as this may squeeze or venom into the wound
Define venom
Toxin produced by snakes, spiders and some marine life
Delivered through fangs
What are the only 2 venomous spiders native to Ohio?
Brown recluse
Black widow
Most bites are ____ ______ until well after the fact.
Not Noticed
What are the 3 venomous snakes native to Ohio and 1 that may be found in Ohio?
The Eastern Massauge
Timber Rattle Snake
Northern Copperhead
Water Moccasins are not native but can be found in streams in Ohio
What is the major concern with related to snake bites?
Development of tissue necrosis and sepsis
Baby snakes are more dangerous when they bite compared to adult snakes, why?
Baby snakes have not learned to control how much venom they output in their bites
What is treatment for a snake bite?
Treat for shock, O2, keep warm
Locate wound and cleanse with soap or alcohol
Remove stinger
Remove constricting jewelry
Immobilize if on an extremity
Transport, medical direction
Define substance abuse
Use of pharmacological substances for purposes other than medically defined reasons
What are 5 identifiers for nonvenomous snakes
Head usually oval, but may be somewhat traingular
Pupils round
No pits-only- nostrils
Divided scales on the underside of the trail
Although many snakes vibrate their tail when upset, nonvenomous snakes never have rattles
Define addiction
Compulsive and overwhelming dependence on a drug; an addiction may be physiologic dependence, a psychological dependence, or both.
Define tolerance
The need to progressively increase the dose of a drug to reproduce the effect originally achieved by smaller doses.
Define withdrawl
Referring to alcohol or drug withdrawal in which the patient’s body reacts severely when deprived of the abused substance.
How many Americans have tried an illicit drug at least once?
28 Million People
How many Americans use illicit drugs regularly?
14.5 Million People
Define toxicology
Study of the detection, chemistry, pharmacological actions, and antidotes of toxic substances.
Define toxins
Any poisonous chemical secreted by bacteria or released following destruction of the bacteria; any chemical (drug, poison, or other) that causes adverse effects on an organism that is exposed to it.
What are the four routes for a toxin to enter the body?
Ingestion
Inhalation
Injection
Absorption
What is the most common route of entry for toxic exposure?
Ingestion
What medication is derived from the deadly night shade plant?
Atropine
With toxic ingestion, burns may occur where?
Lips, tongue, throat and esophagus
What is the phone number for Central Columbus Poison Control?
1-800-222-1222
Can inhalation be a route for rapid absorption?
Yes, due to absorption through the alveolar-capillary membrane in the lungs
Define organophosphates
Phosphorus-containing organic chemicals
Often used as pesticides
Define Decontamination
The process of minimizing toxicity by reducing the amount of toxin absorbed into the body.
Reduce the intake of toxin
Reduce absorption of toxin once in body (activated charcoal)
Enhance elimination of toxin (cathartics or whole bowel irrigation)
During secondary assessment of a toxicologic patient what are some important questions to ask?
What toxin patient was exposed to
When the exposure took place