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Best Practices for Dealing with Intoxicated Patients in EMS Field

Learn vital assessment techniques and patient interaction skills to effectively care for intoxicated individuals in emergency situations as part of Temple College EMS Professions Incidence.

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Best Practices for Dealing with Intoxicated Patients in EMS Field

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  1. Patients Under The Influence Temple College EMS Professions

  2. Incidence • Alcohol, drugs involved in: • 50% of all motor vehicle collisions • 50% of all homicides Roughly half of all adult trauma patients you care for will be drunk, stoned, or high!

  3. Assessment • Alterations in: • Level of consciousness • Pupil responses • Vital signs • Pain perception • Decreased reliability of history • Decreased cooperation

  4. Assessment The patient is NEVER “just drunk!”

  5. Patient Interaction The EMT frequently determines whether patient is cooperative or uncooperative!

  6. Patient Interaction • Positive, nonjudgmental • Identify yourself • Ask permission to make physical contact • Orient, reorient as needed • Address with respect • Avoid terms like “bub” or “honey”

  7. Patient Interaction • Consider your body language, voice tone • Remember you’re a caregiver, not a cop • Acknowledge patient concerns, feelings • Be very clear about what you need, expect patients to do

  8. Patient Interaction • History-taking may require closed-ended (yes-no) rather than open-ended questions • Discretely confirm history with family, friends, bystanders

  9. Uncooperative Patients • Preplan management protocols with law enforcement agencies • Remember, this population is high risk for: • Hepatitis B • Hepatitis C • HIV

  10. The patient is NEVER “just drunk!” Err on side of caution with intoxicated patients.

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