When treating a patient for poisoning, what should you keep in mind regarding treatment?

When treating a patient for poisoning, it is essential to focus on the presenting signs and symptoms. The reason this approach is correct lies in the fact that a patient's immediate clinical presentation provides crucial information that can guide emergency interventions. Symptoms such as altered mental status, respiratory distress, or gastrointestinal distress can offer valuable insights into the type of poisoning that has occurred and its severity. This allows EMTs to prioritize their treatment based on life-threatening conditions that require rapid responses, such as airway management or stabilization of vital signs.

In practice, while specific antidotes may exist for certain poisons, they are not universally applicable or available in every situation. Reliance solely on the substance taken might be complicated by factors such as delayed onset of symptoms, multiple substance exposures, or unknown substances, making it impractical to solely focus on the poison itself for immediate treatment. Additionally, positioning the patient supine may not be advisable due to the risk of aspiration, especially if the poison causes vomiting or altered levels of consciousness. Therefore, assessing and addressing the patient's signs and symptoms allows for a more holistic and effective approach to managing poisoning in the emergency setting.