In a toxicologic emergency, what is the EMT's highest priority when assessing a patient?

In a toxicologic emergency, performing a primary assessment is crucial because it establishes the patient's immediate condition and identifies life-threatening issues that require urgent intervention. This involves evaluating the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation, which is the foundation of emergency medical care.

If the patient’s airway is compromised, breathing is inadequate, or circulation is unstable, those issues must be addressed immediately to prevent further deterioration. Once the primary assessment is completed and life threats are managed, the EMT can then focus on specific interventions such as identifying the poison or administering treatments like activated charcoal, depending on the circumstances.

While identifying the poison is important for determining the appropriate treatment and can guide further care, it should follow the initial assessment to ensure that basic physiological functions are stable. Administering activated charcoal and inducing vomiting are also considerations but come after the primary assessment confirms that the patient can safely tolerate these actions. Prioritizing the primary assessment helps ensure that the patient receives the best chance of survival and recovery.