Substance Dependence and Poisoning Management
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Questions and Answers

A hypnotic drug is one that:

  • Increases the pulse
  • Induces sleep (correct)
  • Prevents amnesia
  • Increases the senses
  • A patient who presents with rapid breathing, nausea and vomiting, ringing in the ears, and hyperthermia should be suspected of ingesting a significant quantity of:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Cocaine
  • Aspirin (correct)
  • Ibuprofen
  • A person who routinely misuses a substance and requires increasing amounts to achieve the same effect is experiencing:

  • Addiction
  • Dependence
  • Tolerance (correct)
  • Withdrawal
  • Activated charcoal may be indicated for a patient who ingested:

    <p>Aspirin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After administering activated charcoal to a patient, it is MOST important to:

    <p>Be alert for vomiting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Airborne substances should be diluted with:

    <p>Oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An EMT's primary responsibility to the patient who has been poisoned is to:

    <p>Recognize that a poisoning occurred</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Common names for activated charcoal include all of the following, EXCEPT:

    <p>Fructose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Heroin is an example of a(n):

    <p>Opioid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hypotension, hypoventilation, and pinpoint pupils would be expected following an overdose of:

    <p>Oxycodone (Percocet)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If you are uncertain how to treat a patient who has been poisoned or exposed to a specific substance, you should:

    <p>Try to find the container the substance was in</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Most poisonings occur via the _____________ route.

    <p>Ingestion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Signs and symptoms of a sympathomimetic drug overdose include:

    <p>Tachycardia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Substance abuse is MOST accurately defined as:

    <p>Misusing a substance to produce a desired effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The major side effect associated with administration of activated charcoal is:

    <p>Black stools</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The poison control center will provide you with the most information regarding the appropriate treatment for a patient with a drug overdose if the center:

    <p>Is aware of the substance that is involved</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of poisoning will cause burns around the mouth in children:

    <p>Alkaline poison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following questions would be the LEAST pertinent during the initial questioning of a patient who ingested a substance?

    <p>Why was the substance ingested?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements regarding the Salmonella bacterium is correct?

    <p>The Salmonella bacterium itself causes food poisoning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Your priority in caring for a patient with a surface contact poisoning is to:

    <p>Avoid contaminating yourself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Your paramedic partner administers atropine to a 49-year-old male with bradycardia. Which of the following side effects would you expect the patient to experience?

    <p>Dry mucous membranes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    You receive a call to a residence where a man found his wife unresponsive on the couch. The patient's respiratory rate is 8 breaths per minute, her breathing is shallow, her heart rate is 40 beats per minute, and her pulse is weak. The husband hands you an empty bottle of hydrocodone (Vicodin), which was refilled the day before. You should:

    <p>Ventilate her with a bag-mask device</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During your assessment of a 50-year-old male found unresponsive in an alley, you note that he has slow, shallow respirations; bradycardia; facial cyanosis; and pinpoint pupils. Which of the following would MOST likely explain the patient's presentation?

    <p>Heroin overdose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A 25-year-old man overdosed on heroin and is unresponsive. His breathing is slow and shallow and he is bradycardic. He has track marks on both arms. The EMT should:

    <p>Insert a nasal airway and ventilate with a bag-mask device</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A 49-year-old male presents with confusion, sweating, and visual hallucinations. The patient's wife tells you that he is a heavy drinker and she thinks he had a seizure shortly before your arrival. This patient is MOST likely experiencing:

    <p>Delirium tremens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    You respond to a college campus for a young male who is acting strangely. After law enforcement has secured the scene, you enter the patient's dorm room and find him sitting on the edge of the bed; he appears agitated. As you approach him, you notice that he has dried blood around both nostrils. He is breathing adequately, his pulse is rapid and irregular, and his blood pressure is 200/110 mm Hg. Treatment for this patient includes:

    <p>Attempting to calm him and giving him oxygen as tolerated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Before giving activated charcoal, you should:

    <p>Obtain approval from medical control</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In an apparent suicide attempt, a 19-year-old female ingested a full bottle of amitriptyline (Elavil). At present, she is conscious and alert and states that she swallowed the pills approximately 30 minutes earlier. Her blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg, her pulse is 140 beats/min and irregular, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth. When transporting this patient, you should be MOST alert for:

    <p>Seizures and cardiac dysrhythmias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    EMTs are dispatched for a teenage male who is 'not acting right.' When they arrive, they are informed that the patient was huffing. Several cans of Freon are found near the patient. Which of the following is a unique consideration for this patient?

    <p>A sudden adrenaline release can cause a fatal dysrhythmia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    You and your paramedic partner are caring for a patient who ingested codeine, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and hydrocodone (Vicodin). The patient is unresponsive, his breathing is slow and shallow, and his pulse is slow and weak. Treatment for this patient should include:

    <p>Assisted ventilation and naloxone (Narcan)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In an apparent suicide attempt, a 19-year-old female ingested a full bottle of amitriptyline (Elavil). At present, she is conscious and alert and states that she swallowed the pills approximately 30 minutes earlier. Her blood pressure is 90/50 mm Hg, her pulse is 140 beats/min and irregular, and her respirations are 22 breaths/min with adequate depth. When transporting this patient, you should be MOST alert for:

    <p>Seizures or cardiac dysrhythmias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Your unit is dispatched to the county jail for an intoxicated inmate. Upon arrival, you find a patient, a 33-year-old male, lying supine in a jail cell. He is responsive to painful stimuli only and has slow, shallow respirations. You should be most concerned that this patient:

    <p>Might vomit and aspirate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A four-year-old, 15 kg male ingested an unknown quantity of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The child's mother states that she does not know when the ingestion occurred. The child is conscious and alert and in no apparent distress. The EMT should:

    <p>Administer 15 g of activated charcoal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    You respond to a local motel for a young female who was sexually assaulted. The patient is conscious but confused. She tells you that the last thing she remembered was drinking beer at a club with her friends the night before. When she awoke, she was in the bed of the motel room. You should suspect that this patient:

    <p>Was given flunitrazepam (rohypnol)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    You are dispatched to a local nursery for a 39-year-old female who is sick. When you arrive, you find a patient lying on the floor. She is semi-conscious, has copious amounts of saliva coming from her mouth, and is incontinent of urine. You quickly feel her pulse and note that it is very slow. Immediate management for this patient should include:

    <p>Thoroughly suctioning her oropharynx</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sets of vital signs would the EMT most likely encounter in a patient with acute cocaine overdose?

    <p>BP, 200/100 mm Hg; pulse, 150 beats/min</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A three-year-old female ingested several leaves from a plant in the living room. The child's mother is not sure what type of plant it is, stating that she bought it simply because it was pretty. After completing your primary assessment of the child, you should:

    <p>Contact the regional Poison Control Center</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Activated charcoal is given to patients who have ingested certain substances because it:

    <p>Binds to the substance and prevents absorption</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Hypnotic Drugs

    • Hypnotic drugs induce sleep, contrasting with substances that increase awareness or energy levels.

    Aspirin Overdose Symptoms

    • Symptoms indicating significant aspirin ingestion include rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus (ringing in ears), and hyperthermia.

    Substance Dependence

    • Increased tolerance implies a person requires larger doses of a substance to achieve the same effect, indicating substance dependence.

    Activated Charcoal Usage

    • Activated charcoal is indicated for aspirin ingestion; it binds the substance, reducing absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.

    Post-Activated Charcoal Care

    • After administering activated charcoal, vigilance for vomiting is crucial, as it could lead to complications.

    Airborne Substance Management

    • Airborne toxins should be managed with oxygen to dilute inhaled substances effectively.

    Poisoning Recognition

    • An EMT's first responsibility is to identify that a poisoning event has occurred, guiding subsequent interventions.

    Common Names for Activated Charcoal

    • Common names include Actidote and LiquiChar; Fructose is not related to activated charcoal.

    Heroin Classification

    • Heroin is classified as an opioid, a substance that can cause significant respiratory depression and sedation.

    Oxycodone Overdose Effects

    • Overdose on Oxycodone may present with symptoms such as hypotension, hypoventilation, and pinpoint pupils.

    Uncertainty in Treatment

    • When unsure how to treat a poisoning, finding the container of the ingested substance is vital for proper management.

    Routes of Poisoning

    • Most poisonings occur via ingestion, highlighting the need for awareness around substances at home.

    Sympathomimetic Overdose Signs

    • Signs of sympathomimetic drug overdose often include tachycardia and hypertension, opposite of sedative effects.

    Substance Abuse Definition

    • Substance abuse is characterized by intentional misuse of a substance to achieve desired effects.

    Side Effects of Activated Charcoal

    • A common side effect of activated charcoal is black stools, which indicate the substance has passed through the gastrointestinal system.

    Poison Control Assistance

    • Effective treatment guidance for drug overdoses from poison control requires knowledge of the specific substance involved.

    Alkaline Poison Symptoms

    • Contact poisoning from alkaline substances can cause oral burns, particularly in children.

    Initial Patient Assessment

    • During initial questioning of a poisoned patient, determining the substance ingested and amount is more crucial than the reason for ingestion.

    Salmonella Bacterium

    • The Salmonella bacterium causes food poisoning directly; refrigeration does not prevent this illness.

    Surface Contact Poisoning Priority

    • With surface contact poisoning, keeping oneself uncontaminated is essential, along with proper decontamination of the patient.

    Atropine Side Effects

    • Administration of atropine can lead to dry mucous membranes as a side effect.

    Narcan in Opioid Overdose

    • In cases of suspected opioid overdose, ventilation assistance and naloxone (Narcan) remain priority interventions.

    Heroin Overdose Diagnosis

    • Symptoms such as slow weak pulse, shallow respirations, and pinpoint pupils suggest a heroin overdose.

    Aggressive Management for Heroin Overdose

    • Patients unresponsive due to heroin overdose require ventilation assistance and potentially naloxone administration.

    Delirium Tremens Recognition

    • Confusion, sweating, and hallucinations in a heavy drinker may indicate delirium tremens, requiring emergency care.

    Freon Exposure Considerations

    • Patients huffing substances like Freon have unique considerations, such as the risk of fatal dysrhythmias from adrenaline release.

    Activated Charcoal Administration Protocol

    • Medical approval must be obtained before administering activated charcoal to ensure patient appropriateness for treatment.

    Amitriptyline Overdose Monitoring

    • For patients who ingest amitriptyline, remain alert for seizures and cardiac dysrhythmias during transport.

    Intoxicated Inmate Safety

    • An unresponsive inmate with shallow breaths poses the risk of aspiration, necessitating careful management and monitoring.

    Pediatric Acetaminophen Exposure

    • Ingestion of acetaminophen in children requires immediate consultation with medical control for proper dosage and treatment.

    Flunitrazepam Suspicions

    • Confusion and memory loss post consumption in a female suggest possible flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) involvement in her assault.

    Emergency Management for Excess Saliva

    • Copious salivation in a semi-conscious patient requires urgent oropharyngeal suctioning to prevent airway obstruction.

    Cocaine Overdose Vital Signs

    • Acute cocaine overdose typically presents with hypertension (e.g., BP 200/100 mmHg) and tachycardia (pulse 150 beats/min).

    Poisoning from Unknown Plants

    • For plant ingestion by a child, immediate contact with the Poison Control Center is warranted to ascertain risks and treatments.

    Activated Charcoal Functionality

    • Activated charcoal acts by binding to toxic substances in the digestive tract, significantly reducing systemic absorption.

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    Description

    This quiz covers essential topics related to substance dependence, the effects of hypnotic drugs, and the management of poisoning, including the use of activated charcoal. Test your knowledge on recognizing symptoms of overdose and the appropriate care for patients with substance ingestion. Enhance your understanding of emergency response protocols for toxic substances.

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