A 49-year-old patient with alcoholism has fallen down a flight of stairs after consuming two- fifths of whiskey. He presents with confused and slurred speech and the smell of alcohol on his breath. Family states that he is 'hopeless' and has been drinking more and more every night. They also say that he must be more drunk than usual because he usually does not slur his speech. Assessment reveals his airway to be open, breathing adequate, and circulation intact. He has a hematoma from the fall to the left side of his head and complains of pain to his left wrist. Given these assessment findings, the EMT would be most concerned about the:

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Prehospital Emergency Care Practice Test: Handling Toxicologic Emergencies — practice the complete quiz, review flashcards, or try a random question.

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

A 49-year-old patient with alcoholism has fallen down a flight of stairs after consuming two- fifths of whiskey. He presents with confused and slurred speech and the smell of alcohol on his breath. Family states that he is 'hopeless' and has been drinking more and more every night. They also say that he must be more drunk than usual because he usually does not slur his speech. Assessment reveals his airway to be open, breathing adequate, and circulation intact. He has a hematoma from the fall to the left side of his head and complains of pain to his left wrist. Given these assessment findings, the EMT would be most concerned about the:






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