Three-step analysis of symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning in pre-hospital medical response teams

Abstract

Diagnosing chronic carbon monoxide poisoning can be a challenge for medical response teams. It is charaterised by unclear symptoms, which develop in a manner similar to many chronic cardiological or neurological diseases, and has consequences that can occur up to several months later. As a result, the character of such poisoning is often under¬estimated in daily practice. Multiple interventions and working under pressure does not always allow for a detailed analysis of many factors. It is therefore vital to develop solutions that allow for quick assessment of whether a patient has been exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Three-step analysis of the symptoms of poisoning is an ideal exam¬ple. This consists of a consultation on exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, the presence of symptoms suggesting hypoxia due to poisoning, and determining the carboxyhaemoglobin index using equipment carried by the medical response team. Emergency procedures based on these three elements result in rapid identification of people suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning who require oxygen therapy, and the transportation of such people to specialised units for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This system of analysis can also be used as part of a standard examination for assessing the exposure of a patient to carbon monoxide, both in hospital emergency departments and in medical response teams.