Opioid Overdose Flashcard
Rationale
A. Rationale: If the patient has no pulse and is not breathing, immediately begin high-quality CPR. When the AED arrives, connect the machine to the patient and defibrillate. If naloxone is available and protocol allows, have a second rescuer administer that medication as CPR continues.
Question
A 34-year-old work colleague recently had knee surgery. He has been taking hydrocodone for the pain and has returned to work. You walk into his office and notice he is slumped across his desk. Beside him on the desk is an empty hydrocodone bottle. You cannot feel a pulse, and he is not breathing. You send a coworker to call EMS and retrieve the AED and naloxone. Your best next action is to:
a. Begin high-quality CPR
b. Monitor the patient until the naloxone arrives
c. Begin rescue breathing
d. Defibrillate with the AED
Answer
a. Begin high-quality CPR
Rationale
A. Rationale: Heroin, hydrocodone, and morphine are all examples of opioids.
Question
An example of an opioid is:
a. Heroin
b. Naloxone
c. Acetaminophen
d. Diphenhydramine
Answer
a. Heroin
Rationale
B. Rationale: Naloxone is the medication given for a suspected opioid overdose.
Question
The medication used for the treatment of an opioid overdose is:
a. Heroin
b. Naloxone
c. Acetaminophen
d. Diphenhydramine
Answer
b. Naloxone
Rationale
C. Rationale: If the patient has a pulse but is not breathing, immediately begin rescue breathing to provide one breath every 6 seconds. If naloxone is available and the protocol allows, have a second rescuer administer that medication as rescue breathing continues.
Question
You are shopping at the local mall and come across a young woman lying on the floor surrounded by a group of people. You feel a pulse, but she is not breathing. One of her friends says the patient used heroin earlier. You send a bystander to call EMS and retrieve the AED and naloxone. Your best next action is to:
a. Begin high-quality CPR
b. Monitor the patient until the naloxone arrives
c. Begin rescue breathing
d. Defibrillate with the AED
Answer
c. Begin rescue breathing
Rationale
B. Rationale: Naloxone is the medication given for a suspected opioid overdose.
Question
You suspect that a patient in respiratory arrest has injected heroin. The medication used to reverse an opioid overdose is:
a. Salicylic acid
b. Naloxone
c. Acetaminophen
d. Diphenhydramine
Answer
b. Naloxone