You are assigned to an ALS engine dispatched to a reported asthma attack.
On your arrival a middle aged woman is in severe respiratory distress, tripoding and you see a rash on her neck. Her husband tells you she has allergies to shellfish and may have been exposed at the restaurant they just left.
You reach for your Epi and Benadryl only to find that what you thought was a 12/2009 during this morning's checks is actually a 2/2009. Kicking yourself and swearing to look closer next time you hold them both to your face to make sure.
Both your life saving meds are clearly expired. Her condition is worsening as your officer looks to you and says, "No ambulance assigned yet, something wrong with your drugs?"
Give the expired meds or no? You Make the Call.
On your arrival a middle aged woman is in severe respiratory distress, tripoding and you see a rash on her neck. Her husband tells you she has allergies to shellfish and may have been exposed at the restaurant they just left.
You reach for your Epi and Benadryl only to find that what you thought was a 12/2009 during this morning's checks is actually a 2/2009. Kicking yourself and swearing to look closer next time you hold them both to your face to make sure.
Both your life saving meds are clearly expired. Her condition is worsening as your officer looks to you and says, "No ambulance assigned yet, something wrong with your drugs?"
Give the expired meds or no? You Make the Call.
Comments
DaveO
Having had the experience of getting hit with a couple months expired epi-pen (just for yuks) I can tell you it doesn't stop working the day it expires. It will do *something* which is better than it doing *nothing.* Buys you time to get fresh drugs and continue to monitor the patient. Call for an intercept if needed.
You would also need to advise the ED staff, and document like crazy...
Capt. Tom
As previously stated the drug doesn't magically go back the day it expires.
"Countries like Canada and the United States mandate that expiry dates are included on all medications. At the time of the medication expiry date, the drug must be at least 90% of the original potency under proper storage conditions."
[http://www.askyourpharmacist.ca/medication_expiry_dates.html]
Three months over that window, I doubt you would see a difference in action.
As also stated, document the circumstances well.
Administer the drugs....stay with me here....to yourself and then hit her.
Wait, I think I misunderstood the question. Let's all take a minute and be thankful I'm not a medic.
And my 'word verification' for this comment was "draco". Damn you, Malfoy.
As with all of the above- give the drug!
However, the real test is, do you own up in your documentation or not??