You have been called to a residence for a 14-year-old male who states that he intentionally took some medication to kill himself. Assessment indicates that he is alert, oriented, and has an open airway and adequate breathing. Given the situation, it is imperative that the EMT's next action be:
A) ask the patient if he feels nauseated.
B) determine what was taken.
C) check the radial pulse and skin.
D) inquire why the patient took the medication.
Question 2
A female patient in her forties has overdosed and is lying at the bottom of some stairs. As you arrive, her husband informs you that she is addicted to pain medications and was chewing a fentanyl (narcotic pain reliever) patch this evening. He states that she was having difficulty standing up and fell down the stairs. He is so frustrated with her that he immediately leaves the scene. The patient has snoring respiration and is incontinent of urine. You first step in caring for this patient would be to:
A) check her pupils for signs of a narcotic overdose.
B) open the airway with a head-tilt, chin-lift.
C) apply supplemental oxygen.
D) take manual in-line spinal stabilization.
