The nurse is driving home after work when he is flagged down by a neighbor in the country who says her husband was exposed to mustard gas. The victim's skin is red and swollen with small blisters, and his eyes are red and tearing
The victim has a runny nose and a dry, barking cough. What should the nurse's initial action be? a. Have the patient remove his clothes and bathe with soap and water three times.
b. Rush the patient to the emergency department (ED).
c. Ask the wife if anyone in the house is on oxygen.
d. Ask the wife for eye drops and petroleum jelly to prevent the eyes from burning.
A
Initial management is rapid decontamination, supportive care, and drug therapy. People exposed to sulfur mustard should undress immediately and wash three times with soap and water.
Rushing the patient to the ED should not be the initial action and may make matters worse, be-cause it prolongs the patient's exposure and exposes all those in the confined vehicle.
Asking the wife for oxygen may be a good idea, but not initially, because the patient does not show any signs of respiratory distress.
Eye drops and petroleum jelly would not be the primary considerations.
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