Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Inhalation 

Symptoms

  • Mild intoxication:
    • Nausea
    • Fatigue
    • Headache
    • Vertigo
    • Lightheadedness
  • Moderate to severe:
    • Altered mental status
    • Tachypnea
    • Tachycardia
    • Convulsion
    • Cardiopulmonary arrest

Clinical Management Options

EMT-B
• Place in position of comfort
• 100% oxygen via non-rebreather mask or bag valve mask or advanced airway as indicated
Paramedic
• IV / IO access as appropriate for patient condition 
• Consider obtaining EKG 
Consult Online Medical Control as Needed

Pearls

  • Consider this in homes where everyone is feeling ill at the same time.
  • Consider transporting patients with severe carbon monoxide poisoning directly to a facility with hyperbaric oxygen capabilities if feasible and patient does not meet criteria for other specialty care (e.g. trauma or burn)
  • Pregnant patients are much more susceptible for carbon monoxide poisoning; have a lower threshold for transporting directly to a facility with hyperbaric oxygen capabilities