Question

You are treating a 28-year-old female who is 34 weeks pregnant. She has a history of bee sting anaphylaxis and was stung by a bee while in the garden. She is having severe respiratory distress and her blood pressure is 72/50 mmHg. Which of the following is the BEST option for the EMT?

A. Do not administer the Epi-Pen® under any circumstances.
B. Immediately administer the patient's Epi-Pen®.
C. Transport rapidly, bypassing the emergency department and taking the patient directly to the obstetrics unit of the hospital.
D. Administer the Epi-Pen® only on the advice of medical control.

Answer 1

In this scenario, the EMT should immediately administer the patient's Epi-Pen® as the patient is experiencing severe respiratory distress and has low blood pressure. Epinephrine can counteract the drop in blood pressure and relax bronchial smooth muscles, potentially saving the patient's life.

Step-by-step explanation:

The BEST option for the EMT in this scenario is to immediately administer the patient's Epi-Pen®. The patient is experiencing severe respiratory distress and has a low blood pressure, which are symptoms of anaphylactic shock. Epinephrine, the drug found in the Epi-Pen®, is the recommended treatment for anaphylaxis as it can counteract the drop in blood pressure and relax bronchial smooth muscles, potentially saving the patient's life.