It's rude, but do you check medicine cabinets?

[mycrofft]

Picking up or treating people with altered LOC, do you customarily (if you have time) check their bathroom cabinet, kitchen cabinet, nightstand and sometimes drawers in coffeetables for meds they are using?
Purses are also informative.
We helped identify a pt found nconscious by finding an advertising pencil in her purse when all else had been stolen and she had been drugged (see my thread on SCENARIOS last year).

 

[Smash]

Yes, always check pockets, drug cabinet, refrigerator, purse, wherever I need to. It's not rude, it's important.

I don't steal things.

 

[Melclin]

Its important and nobody seems to mind. Paramedics have been voted the most trusted profession a number of years in a row here. ^_^ *skips off happily*

 

[dewd09]

Only if it's a possible OD w/ unknown intoxicants.

 

[wvditchdoc]

Picking up or treating people with altered LOC, do you customarily (if you have time) check their bathroom cabinet, kitchen cabinet, nightstand and sometimes drawers in coffeetables for meds they are using?
Purses are also informative.
We helped identify a pt found nconscious by finding an advertising pencil in her purse when all else had been stolen and she had been drugged (see my thread on SCENARIOS last year).

Absolutely...h34r:

 

[Aidey]

It kind of depends on the situation. If someone else is there I usually ask them to get meds and important papers because they know where they are. If the pt is conscious I ask them, and then ask permission to go get them (or send a FF/my partner). If the pt is unconscious/coding we will check what we reasonably can without delaying transport.

 

[Epi-do]

It kind of depends on the situation. If someone else is there I usually ask them to get meds and important papers because they know where they are. If the pt is conscious I ask them, and then ask permission to go get them (or send a FF/my partner). If the pt is unconscious/coding we will check what we reasonably can without delaying transport.

Same here.

 

[mycrofft]

wvditchdoc, great Machiavelli tag!

The thread's headline is sort of a tease, since checking out your host's med cabinet while using their 'loo during a party or stayover is something some people do as a guilty snoop.

Pouches on walkers are another place, although you might have to wade through dry used kleenexes. Nothing like finding a bottle of Vicks Vaporub, a half roll of TUMS, and five empty Nasonex nasal decongestant bottles.
Oh, in my line of work and maybe on the street, check their socks.

 

[EMS_Junkie]

As an EMT it is your responsibility to find out your patient's medications. Finding them or not can alter patient care. Since some patient meds are contraindicators of other drugs. So, I would do everything I can to find the patient's medications.

 

[dewd09]

Our OMC asks that we write them down, but avoid handling or transporting their medications it at all possible. This is an attempt to prevent theft or loss.