You are dispatched to the city park on a hot summer day for a 39-year-old man who fainted. When you arrive, you find the patient sitting under a tree. According to his wife, he had been playing softball all day and has consumed a significant amount of alcohol. She further confirms that he did faint and was "out" for about 2 minutes. The patient is conscious and tells you that he does not remember what happened. His skin is cool, moist, and pale, and his pulse is weak and rapid. You should:

Question

A) initiate immediate and aggressive cooling measures, begin transport, start two large-bore IV lines en route, and closely monitor his cardiac rhythm.
B) give oxygen, assess his blood glucose level, establish vascular access and give saline fluid boluses as needed, transport, and monitor his cardiac rhythm.
C) give oxygen via nasal cannula, start an IV of normal saline at a keep-vein-open rate, administer 50% dextrose IV, and transport with passive cooling en route.
D) administer oxygen, apply a cervical collar in case he injured himself when he fainted, start an IV with normal saline, give a 20-mL/kg fluid bolus, and transport.

Answer 1

Answer: B) give oxygen, assess his blood glucose level, establish vascular access and give saline fluid boluses as needed, transport, and monitor his cardiac rhythm.