Question

you have a patient with carbon monoxide poisoning. which of the following is your most important treatment after removing the patient from the source?

nitroglycerine.
activated charcoal.
high-flow oxygen.
epinephrine auto-injector.

Explanation:

Analyze the pathophysiology of carbon monoxide poisoning

Using the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms knowledge point
Carbon monoxide (CO) binds to hemoglobin with an affinity over 200 times greater than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin. This prevents oxygen delivery to tissues, causing cellular hypoxia.

Determine the primary prehospital intervention

Using the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms knowledge point
Administering high-flow, high-concentration oxygen (typically via a non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min) is the definitive prehospital treatment. It floods the alveoli with oxygen, reducing the half-life of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood and promoting the displacement of CO from hemoglobin.

Evaluate the incorrect options

Using the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms knowledge point

• Nitroglycerine is a vasodilator used for chest pain/angina, not CO poisoning.
• Activated charcoal is used for ingested toxins, not inhaled gases.
• Epinephrine is used for anaphylaxis or cardiac arrest, not CO poisoning.

Answer:

• Nitroglycerine.
• Activated charcoal.
• High-flow oxygen. (Correct answer)
• Epinephrine auto-injector.