Question

What are the two MOST important steps in treating a patient with contact poisoning?

1) Inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal
2) Administering an antidote and providing supportive care
3) Washing the affected area with soap and water
4) Applying a cold compress and elevating the affected limb

Answer 1

The two most vital steps for treating contact poisoning are decontamination by washing the affected area and administering an appropriate antidote while providing supportive care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two MOST important steps in treating a patient with contact poisoning are washing the affected area with soap and water, and administering an antidote along with providing supportive care. Immediate decontamination by washing is crucial to remove the substance from the skin and reduce absorption, which often involves using detergent and warm water, and sometimes a specific solution like bleach or sodium hydroxide depending on the contaminant. Subsequently, administering the correct antidote, like atropine and pralidoxime for nerve agent poisoning or chelating agents like DMSA for heavy metal poisoning, is essential to counteract the poison's effects alongside supportive treatments such as hydration or oxygen therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning.