Question

The school nurse sees an 8-year-old male coming into the nursing office by his phys ed teacher with complaints of profuse sweating and confusion. The patient is currently afebrile. Under which circumstances would EMS (Emergency Medical Services) be activated?

A) The child reports feeling dizzy but is able to answer questions coherently.
B) The child has a history of occasional sweating during physical activities.
C) The child is responsive but unable to communicate and appears disoriented.
D) The child exhibits normal vital signs and requests to go home.

Answer 1

EMS should be activated for an 8-year-old showing confusion and profuse sweating if the child is disoriented and unable to communicate clearly, indicating a potential serious medical issue requiring immediate attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The school nurse might activate Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for an 8-year-old patient presenting profuse sweating and confusion under the circumstance where the child is responsive but unable to communicate effectively and appears disoriented. This situation corresponds to option C. When a child exhibits such symptoms, it can be a sign of a serious medical condition that warrants immediate assessment and intervention by EMS. Clear communication, orientation, and coherence are critical for assessing a child's condition, and disorientation is a red flag that needs urgent attention.