Hazardous materials — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: C — Establish cordons and request specialist hazardous materials support

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · E = shown as B · A = shown as C · B = shown as D · D = shown as E

A is correct: Unknown chemical exposure requires cordons and specialist advice to protect responders and the public. B is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; C is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; D is less suitable because it creates avoidable delay in a time-critical presentation; E is less suitable because it delays the immediate life-saving step in the cABCDE sequence. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; GMC Good Medical Practice; JESIP Joint Doctrine