Question

You are called to assist a 60-year-old female who complains of a severe headache. Upon entering the home, you smell a strong odor of natural gas. What is your first action?

A) check the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation
B) Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and asses vital signs
C) remove the patient from the house to your ambulance
D) Open all windows and determine the source of the gas leak

Answer 1

The first action upon detecting a natural gas odor and a patient with a severe headache should be to remove the patient from the hazardous environment for safety, and then call emergency services.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you enter a home and smell a strong odor of natural gas, the first action should be C) remove the patient from the house to your ambulance. Exposure to natural gas can lead to symptoms such as severe headaches and more dangerous health effects like unconsciousness or explosions if the gas accumulates and is ignited. Therefore, the priority is to ensure the safety of both the patient and yourself. Proceed by notifying the appropriate emergency services to handle the gas leak once the patient is in a safe location. Only after ensuring safety should one provide further medical assistance to address the patient's symptoms.