FISDAP UNIT EXAM: MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT!!!
Question 1
What essential history questions should be asked when assessing a patient who
has suffered an overdose or toxic ingestion?
Answer:
1. What substance/agent was taken? (Including exact drug, dosage, or co-
ingestants like alcohol).
2. When was it taken? (Determines absorption timeframe and treatment
options like activated charcoal).
3. How much was taken? (Quantity, pill counts, or liquid volume).
4. What was the route of exposure? (Oral, intravenous, inhalation,
transdermal).
5. When was their last oral intake? (Food delays gastric emptying and alters
drug absorption).
6. Were any precautions taken? (e.g., suicide note, locked doors, mixing
substances).
7. What is the patient's approximate weight? (Critical for calculating
pediatric dosages or specific antidote administration).
Opiates and opioids -ANSWER ✔✔morphine, codeine, and heroin, methadone,
oxycodone
hypoventilation, respiratory arrest, pinpoint pupils, sedation, coma, hypotension
,sympathomimetics -ANSWER ✔✔epinephrine, albuterol, cocaine,
methamphetamine
hypertension, tachycardia, dilated pupils, agitation, seizures, hyperthermia
sedative hypnotics -ANSWER ✔✔diazepam, secobarbital, flunitrazepam,
midazolam
slurred speech, sedation, coma, hypoventilation, hypotension
anticholinergics -ANSWER ✔✔atropine, diphenhydramine, chloropheniramine,
doxylamine, datura stramonium (jimsonweed)
tachycardia, hyperthermia, hypertension, dilated pupils, dry skin and mucous
membranes, sedation, agitation, seizures, coma, delirium, decreased bowel sounds
cholinergics -ANSWER ✔✔organophosphates, pilocarpine, nerve gas
airway compromise
SLUDGEM
SLUDGEM -ANSWER ✔✔salivation, sweating
lacrimation
,urination
defecation, drooling, diarrhea
gastric upset and cramps
emesis
muscle twitching/miosis (pinpoint pupils)
miosis -ANSWER ✔✔excessively constricted pupil, often bilateral after exposure
to nerve agents.
Inhaled poisons -ANSWER ✔✔can cause hypoxia (CO), airway obstruction and
pulmonary edema (chlorine gas), burning eyes, sore throat, cough, chest pain,
hoarseness, wheezing, respiratory distress, dizziness, confusion, headache, stridor,
seizures, altered mental status,
treat by removing the patient from exposure and applying oxygen
some inhaled agents cause progressive lung damage and damage may not be
evident for several hours. It may take 2-3 days or more of ICU to restore normal
lung function.
prompt transport, O2 via non rebreathing and possible positive pressure ventilation
if necessary. pulse oximetry readings may be inaccurate with inhaled poisons.
suction if necessary.
, Absorbed and surface contact poisons -ANSWER ✔✔corrosive substances will
damage the skin, mucous membranes, eyes, cause chemical burns, rashes, or
lesions,.
acids/alkalis, petroleum (hydrocarbon) products are destructive to the skin and
external tissue.
distinguish between contact burns and contact absorption
history of exposure, liquid or powder on patient skin, burns, itching, irritation,
redness of skin, odors of substance.
avoid contaminating yourself and others
remove substance from the patient as fast as possible
remove all contaminated cothes
brush off dry powdery substances, flood/flush with water 15-20 minutes. use soap.
irrigate eyes quickly: make sure the fluid runs from the bridge of the nose outward,
initiate on scene and continue during transport; keep the patient eyes open.
ingested poisons -ANSWER ✔✔80% of all poisoning is by mouth. usually
accidental in children and purposeful in adults.
GI problems, cardiac problems, neurological problems.
EMERGENCIES QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT!!!
Question 1
What essential history questions should be asked when assessing a patient who
has suffered an overdose or toxic ingestion?
Answer:
1. What substance/agent was taken? (Including exact drug, dosage, or co-
ingestants like alcohol).
2. When was it taken? (Determines absorption timeframe and treatment
options like activated charcoal).
3. How much was taken? (Quantity, pill counts, or liquid volume).
4. What was the route of exposure? (Oral, intravenous, inhalation,
transdermal).
5. When was their last oral intake? (Food delays gastric emptying and alters
drug absorption).
6. Were any precautions taken? (e.g., suicide note, locked doors, mixing
substances).
7. What is the patient's approximate weight? (Critical for calculating
pediatric dosages or specific antidote administration).
Opiates and opioids -ANSWER ✔✔morphine, codeine, and heroin, methadone,
oxycodone
hypoventilation, respiratory arrest, pinpoint pupils, sedation, coma, hypotension
,sympathomimetics -ANSWER ✔✔epinephrine, albuterol, cocaine,
methamphetamine
hypertension, tachycardia, dilated pupils, agitation, seizures, hyperthermia
sedative hypnotics -ANSWER ✔✔diazepam, secobarbital, flunitrazepam,
midazolam
slurred speech, sedation, coma, hypoventilation, hypotension
anticholinergics -ANSWER ✔✔atropine, diphenhydramine, chloropheniramine,
doxylamine, datura stramonium (jimsonweed)
tachycardia, hyperthermia, hypertension, dilated pupils, dry skin and mucous
membranes, sedation, agitation, seizures, coma, delirium, decreased bowel sounds
cholinergics -ANSWER ✔✔organophosphates, pilocarpine, nerve gas
airway compromise
SLUDGEM
SLUDGEM -ANSWER ✔✔salivation, sweating
lacrimation
,urination
defecation, drooling, diarrhea
gastric upset and cramps
emesis
muscle twitching/miosis (pinpoint pupils)
miosis -ANSWER ✔✔excessively constricted pupil, often bilateral after exposure
to nerve agents.
Inhaled poisons -ANSWER ✔✔can cause hypoxia (CO), airway obstruction and
pulmonary edema (chlorine gas), burning eyes, sore throat, cough, chest pain,
hoarseness, wheezing, respiratory distress, dizziness, confusion, headache, stridor,
seizures, altered mental status,
treat by removing the patient from exposure and applying oxygen
some inhaled agents cause progressive lung damage and damage may not be
evident for several hours. It may take 2-3 days or more of ICU to restore normal
lung function.
prompt transport, O2 via non rebreathing and possible positive pressure ventilation
if necessary. pulse oximetry readings may be inaccurate with inhaled poisons.
suction if necessary.
, Absorbed and surface contact poisons -ANSWER ✔✔corrosive substances will
damage the skin, mucous membranes, eyes, cause chemical burns, rashes, or
lesions,.
acids/alkalis, petroleum (hydrocarbon) products are destructive to the skin and
external tissue.
distinguish between contact burns and contact absorption
history of exposure, liquid or powder on patient skin, burns, itching, irritation,
redness of skin, odors of substance.
avoid contaminating yourself and others
remove substance from the patient as fast as possible
remove all contaminated cothes
brush off dry powdery substances, flood/flush with water 15-20 minutes. use soap.
irrigate eyes quickly: make sure the fluid runs from the bridge of the nose outward,
initiate on scene and continue during transport; keep the patient eyes open.
ingested poisons -ANSWER ✔✔80% of all poisoning is by mouth. usually
accidental in children and purposeful in adults.
GI problems, cardiac problems, neurological problems.
