Question

A 37-year-old male is having a severe allergic reaction to penicillin. He does not have an epinephrine auto-injector and your protocols do not allow you to carry epinephrine on the ambulance. How should you proceed with the treatment of this patient?

1) Ask the patient if he has any diphenhydramine tablets that you can administer.
2) Administer oxygen, transport at once, and request a paramedic intercept.
3) Remain at the scene with the patient and request a paramedic ambulance.
4) Quickly determine if there are any bystanders who may carry epinephrine.

Answer 1

In this scenario, the best course of action would be to administer oxygen, transport the patient at once, and request a paramedic intercept while relying on diphenhydramine or bystanders may not be sufficient.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, since the protocols do not allow carrying epinephrine, the best course of action would be to administer oxygen, transport the patient at once, and request a paramedic intercept.

1. Administering oxygen will help support the patient's breathing and increase oxygen levels in the blood.
2. Transporting the patient at once is crucial to ensure they receive appropriate medical care as soon as possible.
3. Requesting a paramedic intercept allows for a higher level of medical expertise and potentially expedited administration of epinephrine if deemed necessary.

It's important to note that diphenhydramine tablets (antihistamines) may not be sufficient to treat a severe allergic reaction like anaphylaxis, and relying solely on bystanders carrying epinephrine may not be reliable. Therefore, the best course of action is to administer oxygen, transport the patient promptly, and request a paramedic intercept.