There are times wherein rescuers are called in a situation where in the patient who is suffering from a metabolic disorder can only be treated by administering the medications that are prescribed by their doctors. This is why it is important for all first aid responders to learn about the first aid CPR Hamilton guidelines on how to administer these medications properly. Here are some of these guidelines.
Dosage
Patients who are suffering from metabolic disorders have sensitive metabolism which means that they may only be able to absorb specific amounts of their medication. They are also at higher risk for overdosing or under-dosing which is why first aid rescuers should ensure that they are administering the right amounts of medication. Rescuers should also learn how to compute for the right dosage if the drug should be diluted before administration or if the exact dose is not available. This knowledge allows rescuers to determine if they need to double the dosage of the available medication or cut the dosage in half.
Route
The absorption rate of medications greatly depend on the route that they are given. Pharmacologically speaking, tablets or capsules are absorbed the slowest since they will need to undergo the entire process of digestion before the medicinal benefits are experienced. The fastest medication route is through intravenous therapy in which the medications are directly injected into the veins. This is why it is important for first aid rescuers to check the route. Considering that doctors usually use abbreviations when indicating the route that the medications should be administered, rescuers should ask relatives or friends for clarification if the route abbreviation that is indicated in the patient’s prescription is unintelligible.
Food and Other Medications
A patient who is suffering from metabolic disorders may suffer from its complications such as vomiting and abdominal pain. These complications may prompt first aid rescuers to administer over-the-counter medications or give certain types of food in order to manage these complications. Even though they are legally allowed to do so especially in life-threatening situations, they should bear in mind that patients who have metabolic disorders are hypersensitive to drug interactions. This is why it is best for rescuers to consult a healthcare professional before giving these medications.
Knowing these first aid CPR Hamilton medication guidelines for patients who have metabolic disorders help ensure that rescuers do not end up harming the patient instead of saving their lives. It also ensures the rescuers coordinate with other, more capable healthcare professionals in order to ensure the safety of their patients.