A firefighter is brought to the emergency department with complaints of headache, weakness, shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. During the assessment of this client, the nurse realizes the client should be evaluated for:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described suggest cyanide poisoning, which is a risk for firefighters due to exposure to smoke and fumes during firefighting activities. Cyanide poisoning can cause headache, weakness, shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. Immediate treatment is required. The other options are possible differentials, but based on the given information, cyanide poisoning is the most likely cause.

A Firefighter Is Brought to the Emergency Department with Complaints