Question

A 3-year-old child ingests a substance that may be a poison. The parent calls a neighbor who is a nurse and asks what to do. What is the best response by the nurse?

1) Administer syrup of ipecac.
2) Call the Poison Control Center.
3) Take the child to the emergency department.
4) Give the child bread dipped in milk to absorb the poison.

Answer 1

The best response when a 3-year-old child ingests a possible poison is to call the Poison Control Center for immediate guidance. The Poison Control Center can provide specific instructions based on the substance ingested and may advise taking the child to the emergency department if necessary.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a 3-year-old child ingests a substance that may be a poison, the best response by the nurse would be to Call the Poison Control Center immediately. Poison Control can provide specific advice for the type of substance ingested and the necessary steps to take. It is crucial to have the substance container available for reference when calling. If the situation appears severe, or if instructed by Poison Control, take the child to the emergency department without delay. Traditional home remedies such as syrup of ipecac or giving bread dipped in milk are not recommended as they can cause more harm or delay appropriate treatment. Moreover, it's essential to prevent poisoning in the first place by keeping toxic substances out of the reach of children and using products precisely as their labels direct.