Emergency & Acute Care Medicine

Toxicological Emergencies

Poisoning is the second leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality, with more than 2.4 million toxic exposures reported each year. Recently published national consensus guidelines recommend that hospitals providing emergency care routinely stock 24 antidotes for a wide range of toxicities, including toxic-alcohol poisoning, exposure to cyanide and other industrial agents, and intentional or unintentional overdoses of prescription medications.

• Respiratory depression
• variable pupil changes
• hypotension
• hypothermia
• barbiturate blisters