Page 15 - EMS Handbook

b.​ ​If you cannot find an unburned location clean an area well before inserting the ​IV​ ​to
avoid infection.
3.​ ​Remove any wet or burned clothing from the burned areas if possible.
a.​ ​If the clothing doesn't come away easily ​DO NOT PULL​, leave it be. Pulling can cause
father harm and pain to the patient.
4.​ ​Apply​ ​Water-Jel (special burn gel)​ ​to visible burns and wrap them with dry gauze.
5.​ ​Place a blanket over the patient to help keep them warm, burn patients are at risk of
hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature)​ in some cases.
6.​ ​At this point you can give the patient pain medication via the​ ​IV Line​.
a.​ ​Be sure to get a ​S.A.M.P.L.E History​ ​from the patient if possible before giving them
anything.

Overdose Protocol
Signs of an overdose include the following:
a.​ ​Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, or diarrhea.
b.​ ​Dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, or visual disturbances.
c.​ ​Loss of balance, seizures, or coma.
d.​ ​Breathing difficulties, not breathing, snoring deeply, or turning blue.
e.​ ​Internal bleeding.
1.​ ​Most overdose cases will be semi conscious or unconscious on arrival, don't forget to follow
the basic protocol and call out to your patient.
a.​ ​Do your​ ​L.O.C​ ​assessment if you haven't yet.
b.​ ​If they are responsive ask them what type of drugs they ingested.
c.​ ​Be aware a conscious patient may be ​combative​ and might need to be ​restrained​ so
they do not hurt you, or themselves, further.
2.​ ​Check the patient's ​Pulse​ ​and ​Airway​, make sure they are breathing. Make sure the airway is
unobstructed.
a.​ ​If they have ​no ​Pulse​ ​begin ​CPR​ ​now​ with a​ ​Lucas Machine​.
b.​ ​If they do not respond to ​CPR​ ​consider applying an ​AED​.
3.​ ​Check the patient and scene for signs of what medication or drugs they may have used.
a.​ ​Look over the patient's arms and legs for​ ​'entry points' (needle marks)​ to indicate the
use of an ​injected drug.
b.​ ​Do you see any ​empty pill bottles​ around them indicating an ​ingested drug​?
c.​ ​Is there an officer, or family member, who can tell you anything about what they may
have taken?
4.​ ​Get them on a stretcher and in the ambulance as ​soon as you can​.
5.​ ​While doing your ​Baseline Vitals​ do a second sweep for ​'Entry Points'​ if an ingested drug has
not been indicated yet.
a.​ ​Be sure to get a ​S.A.M.P.L.E History​ from the patient if possible before giving them
anything.
6.​ ​Get and ​IV​ ​going so you can administer ​Narcan​.
a.​ ​See the​ Medication List​ in the back for more about ​Narcan​.
7.​ ​Keep an eye on their ​Vitals​ ​throughout the trip to the Hospital.