Question

You are a new EMT in a very busy urban EMS system. Before joining this​ agency, you worked as a volunteer in a rural EMS​ system, where you did not experience many EMS calls. You are working with a seasoned EMT when you are requested to respond to a residential home for an unresponsive​ 13-year-old male patient. Upon your​ arrival, the family escorts you into the​ garage, where the boy is being cradled by his crying mother. The boy is unresponsive. As you draw nearer to the​ boy, your partner says to​ you, "Hey, you smell that moth ball​ smell? I know what might be going​ on." Given your​ partner's statement, how might the odor be related to the​ patient's condition?

Answer 1

The mothball smell indicates potential poisoning from naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which could explain the unresponsiveness of the 13-year-old patient.

Step-by-step explanation:

The odor of mothballs that your partner points out can be an important indicator of the patient's condition. Mothballs contain chemicals such as naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which can be toxic if inhaled or ingested in large quantities. The presence of such an odor at the scene suggests the possibility of poisoning from mothball inhalation or ingestion, which may be contributing to the 13-year-old male patient's unresponsiveness. In situations like these, it's crucial for EMTs to be aware of environmental clues that could indicate the cause of a medical emergency.

Answer 2

Mothballs can be dangerous to children

Step-by-step explanation:

Mothballs may contain naphthalene which can cause red blood cells to rupture and cause hemolytic (blood-breaking) anemia. Children are at the highest risk of this condition because they can receive a higher exposure due to their lower weight or they can swallow mothballs thinking they are candy. Also, some children may have a hereditary condition called glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency which puts them at a higher risk.