JBL EMT Practice Exam

After confirming the drug's name and expiration date, what should you do next if a patient hands you an epinephrine auto-injector?

1. Administer the drug

2. Ask her if she takes other medications

3. Contact medical control

4. Request an ALS ambulance to administer the drug

The correct answer is: Administer the drug

If a patient hands you an epinephrine auto-injector after confirming the drug's name and expiration date, the next appropriate step would be to administer the drug. Epinephrine auto-injectors are commonly used to treat severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, and time is of the essence in these situations. Administering the epinephrine promptly can potentially save the patient's life by reversing the allergic reaction and its dangerous symptoms. Therefore, administering the drug promptly is crucial in this scenario. Options B, C, and D are not the immediate next steps after confirming the drug's name and expiration date in this situation. Asking about other medications, contacting medical control, or requesting an ALS ambulance to administer the drug would all take more time and potentially delay the administration of epinephrine, which is the critical intervention needed in cases of severe allergic reactions.