Chapter 20 Part 2

Chapter 20 Part 2

Foundations 1

Triage and Treatment

Triage comes from the French word, trier, to sort.

Patients are assessed and labeled according to priority of care: Immediate, delayed, minimal, or expectant

Treatment based on the type of agent the patient was exposed to and degree of exposure.

Antibiotics used for some biologic agents, antidotes used for some chemicals and poisonous gases. Supportive treatment based on symptoms.

Poison

Substance that when ingested, inhaled, absorbed, applied, injected, or developed within the body may causes functional or structural disturbances.

Includes agents used in chemical terrorism.

Treatments and antidotes for poisoning can be obtained from a poison control center or are listed on some containers. Some poisons don't have antidotes.

Report suspected poisoning to the poison control center, they will ask: Name of the product, patient's age, amount of product involved, and symptoms.

Protective Devices

Also known as restraints, overused in the past

Each facility has strict rules about use

Used for behavioral and non-behavioral indications

Must have a provider's order, requires frequent patient assessment or one on one observation

Protective Devices cont.

Federal and local laws protect the patient from physical and chemical restraints except those that are authorized by a physician, in writing, for a specified period of time, or that are needed in an emergency. Must be applied by qualified licensed personnel.

Consider alternatives first and chart failure of alternatives to address issue.