Jump to content

Activated charcoal LAME


Recommended Posts

i just dont get it really. So you have an altered mental status and soon some other internal injuries (depending on what they took) and now you want to add a possible airway issue into it, plus the mess. Its just like :shock: I mean i understand its going to absorb and slow down the poisens but is it worth giving? or should I just request some ALS?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 22
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

We came to an agreement that charcoal shall not be given orally, unless with NG tube.

I agree with this...NG tube should be in place. Besides charcoal being MESSY...it has tendency to gag people when they try to drink it. I think an NG is the only way to go..IMHO

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I go in for my EMT-B practical testing in Connecticut.

I walk in to the medical station.

I am presented with an overdose of sleeping pills.

I am obviously sapposed to give activated charcoal.

The patient is tired, dizzy, somewhat alert but is ignoring some of the questions i ask/not answering me.

I tell the instructer that i will not give activated charcoal because of his altered mental status.

4 days later i get a letter in the mail, saying i failed the medical station because i did not do correct interventions (give activated charcoal)

I went back 2 weeks later AN PASSED! =] yippy.

So fill me in. i know i should have given activated charcoal but i am correct that you dont give charcoal to someone with an altered mental status/not responding to verbal stimuli?

If i was in the field should i have given charcoal? i think i should have. But AMS means no charcoal.

Per our medical director we have taken activated charcoal and NG tubes off our trucks and out of our protocols and neither is to be performed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...