A 19-year-old female patient with diabetes is unresponsive after drinking a large amount of alcohol and trying some 'pills' that her friend provided. She has snoring respirations and an intact radial pulse. Emergency Medical Responders are maintaining her airway with a head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver, which has eliminated the snoring respirations. Vital signs are pulse, 116; respirations, 14 breaths/min; minimal chest wall motion with absent breath sounds in the bases; and SpO2, 92%. Advanced life support has been contacted for assistance. Your next action would be to:

Toxicological emergencies are caused by substances that impair health or cause death by entering the body or touching the skin. These emergencies include: intentional overdose, unintentional poisoning, occupational exposure, environmental hazards, envenomation, biologic and chemical warfare, and radiation illness.  Toxicological emergencies are often complex and require a deep understanding of pharmacology. For example, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause mild to severe symptoms, including headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, seizure, and coma. Other important findings in poisoning may... Show more

Toxicological emergencies are caused by substances that impair health or cause death by entering the body or touching the skin. These emergencies include:
intentional overdose, unintentional poisoning, occupational exposure, environmental hazards, envenomation, biologic and chemical warfare, and radiation illness. 

Toxicological emergencies are often complex and require a deep understanding of pharmacology. For example, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause mild to severe symptoms, including headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, seizure, and coma. Other important findings in poisoning may include: muscle rigidity, tremors, and fasciculations. 
 

Here are some tips for treating poisonings:
For poisons taken internally:
Look into the victim's mouth and remove all tablets, powder, or any material that is present
Examine the mouth for cuts, burns, swelling, unusual coloring, or odor 

Show less