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20 Clark Street
Harrington, DE 19952
(302) 398-8931
Fax (302) 398-4350
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
CONTINUING EDUCATION QUIZ
1. The most common cause of poisonings in industrialized countries is :
A. acetaminophen (Tylenol)
B. aspirin
C. lithium
D. carbon monoxide
2. Which of the following statements about carbon monoxide (CO) is false?
A. CO has an acidic taste
B. CO is colorless
C. CO is odorless
D. CO results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
3. Which of the following would not be considered a possible source of CO poisoning?
A. gasoline-powered electrical generator
B. propane-powered forklift
C. electric heat pump
D. house fires
4. Which of the following statements is false?
A. Accidental CO poisoning peaks during summer months
B. CO poisoning is common following hurricanes.
C. People aged 65 and older are at increased risk of CO poisoning
D. House fires are a common cause of CO poisoning
5. The developing fetus has high amounts of which of the following hemoglobin types?
A. HgA
B. HgB
C. HgF
D. HgS
6. Which of the following is a factor in calculating minute volume?
A. Oxygen saturation (SpO2)
B. Heart rate
C. Tidal volume
D. Carboxyhemoglobin level (SpCO)
7. Human hemoglobin has _____ oxygen binding sites per molecule.
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
8. Normal oxygen concentration in the atmosphere at sea level is approximately:
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A. 19%
B. 15%
C. 25%
D. 21%
9. Which of the following statements is true?
A. CO has a greater affinity for hemoglobin than it does for oxygen
B. CO consists of 1 carbon and 2 oxygen atoms
C. CO bound to hemoglobin is called oxyhemoglobin
D. CO poisoning enhances aerobic metabolism
10. The half-life of carboxyhemoglobin when the patient is breathing room air is:
A. 22 minutes
B. 80 minutes
C. 4-6 hours
D. 54 days
11. Which of the following would not be considered part of a population group at risk for CO
poisoning?
A. Firefighter
B. Urban toll booth employee
C. Orchard worker
D. Miner
12. Which of the following statements about delayed neurological syndrome (DNS) is true?
A. It occurs in virtually all victims of severe CO poisoning
B. The incidence is higher is patients who lose consciousness from CO poisoning
C. Symptoms begin immediately after the initial exposure
D. The most common symptom is confabulation
13. Pulse CO-oximeters can measure all of the following parameters except:
A. SpO2
B. SpCO
C. SpCO2
D. SpMet
14. Pulse CO-oximetry uses ____ wavelengths of light to monitor different hemoglobin
molecules.
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
15. CO poisoning is often misdiagnosed as:
A. Viral syndrome
B. The “flu”
C. Migraine headache
D. All of the above
16. Which of the following is NOT a CDC diagnostic criteria for CO poisoning?
A. Suspected
B. Likely
C. Probable
D. Confirmed
17. The most important treatment in CO poisoning is:
A. Administration of low-flow oxygen with a nasal cannula
B. Initiate IV therapy with normal saline
C. Administration of amyl nitrate
D. Administration of high-concentration oxygen
18. Which of the following statements about hyperbaric oxygen therapy is false?
A. It can increase hemoglobin oxygen saturation
B. There is no significant evidence that it improves mortality
C. It can help alleviate tissue hypoxia
D. It increases the half-life of carboxyhemoglobin
19. Which of following is a possible exogenous source of CO poisoning?
A. Benzene
B. Methylene chloride
C. Toluene
D. Cyanuric acid
20. Which of the following statements about cyanide is false?
A. It is odorless
B. It is colorless
C. The molecule contains one carbon and one nitrogen molecule
D. It is extremely toxic
21. Which of the following biochemical systems is primarily affected by cyanide?
A. Glycolysis
B. Kreb’s cycle
C. Electron transport chain
D. Cellular division
22. Which of the following is not a part of the cyanide antidote kit?
A. Amyl nitrate
B. Sodium thiosulfate
C. Sodium nitrite
D. Amyl nitrite
23. Concomitant CO and cyanide poisoning is a particular risk for firefighters. Which of the
following statement about concomitant CO and cyanide poisoning is false?
A. The use of nitrites increases mehtemoglobin levels, which reduces the oxygencarrying capacity of the blood
B. The symptoms of CO poisoning and cyanide poisoning are similar
C. CO and cyanide are both by-products of combustion
D. Cyanide poisoning and CO poisoning are easy to distinguish
24. Oxygen can only bind to heme when heme is in which charge state?
A. Fe+
B. Fe2+
C. Fe3+
D. Fe
25. Which of the following statements about hydroxocobalamin is true?
A. Cyanocobalamin is toxic to humans.
B. Hydroxocobalamin is a precursor to Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
C. Hydroxocobalamin is converted to cyanocobalamin in the presence of cyanide
D. Hydroxocobalamin is the third steip in the administration of the cyanide antidote kit