Question

A 19-year-old female was stung multiple times on the legs by fire ants. She states that she is allergic to fire ants, but does not carry her own epinephrine. The patient is conscious and alert and complains of pain to the area of the bites. Her blood pressure is 122/70 mm Hg, her pulse is 100 beats/min and strong, and her respirations are 18 breaths/min and unlabored. You should:

1) position her legs well above the level of her heart.
2) administer oxygen and transport her to the hospital.
3) request a paramedic unit to administer epinephrine.
4) advise her to see her physician as soon as possible.

Answer 1

The most critical step is to administer oxygen and request a paramedic unit to give epinephrine, followed by immediate transport to the hospital for a 19-year-old female who is allergic to fire ants and was stung multiple times without having her own epinephrine auto-injector.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the patient is allergic to fire ants and has been stung multiple times while not carrying epinephrine, an epinephrine injection is crucial to counteract potential anaphylactic reactions. Even though the patient is currently conscious with normal vital signs, allergic reactions can worsen rapidly. The most appropriate immediate actions would be to administer oxygen to support breathing and request a paramedic unit to administer epinephrine, as well as transporting her to the hospital for further care. Positioning her legs above heart level would not address the systemic allergic reaction, and visiting a physician is not immediate enough for a potentially life-threatening reaction. Preparing for potential respiratory distress and plummeting blood pressure, which are hallmarks of anaphylactic shock, is essential and epinephrine is the first line of treatment for such emergencies.