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Wilderness Pharmacology & Medications Flashcards

7 cards from real WFR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Wilderness Pharmacology & Medications flashcards as text

  1. A backcountry patient develops symptoms consistent with a urinary tract infection. Which class of medication would appropriately address the underlying cause?

    Answer: Antibiotics

    UTIs are caused by bacteria and require antibiotic treatment; WFR scope may include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ciprofloxacin for such field situations.

  2. Dexamethasone (Decadron) is used as a rescue medication in the wilderness primarily for which high-altitude emergency?

    Answer: High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)

    Dexamethasone reduces cerebral edema and is a life-saving rescue treatment for HACE when immediate descent is not possible.

  3. Which of the following is NOT one of the classic 'five rights' of medication administration?

    Answer: Right insurance authorization

    The five rights are: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time — insurance authorization is not part of this safety framework.

  4. A patient in the backcountry is experiencing a severe asthma attack with audible wheezing. Which medication is most appropriate as first-line treatment?

    Answer: Albuterol inhaler

    Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist that directly relaxes bronchial smooth muscle, making it the first-line drug for acute bronchospasm in asthma.

  5. In the wilderness context, obtaining informed consent before administering medication means:

    Answer: The patient understands the medication, its risks, benefits, and alternatives before voluntarily agreeing

    Informed consent requires that the patient understand what is being given, why, the risks and alternatives, then voluntarily agree — preserving patient autonomy.

  6. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) are superior to plain water during dehydration primarily because they:

    Answer: Contain electrolytes that activate co-transport mechanisms to enhance intestinal fluid absorption

    ORS contains balanced sodium, glucose, and potassium that engage sodium-glucose co-transporters in the intestine, dramatically increasing fluid absorption compared to water alone.

  7. A patient develops hives, wheezing, and hypotension shortly after receiving a medication in the field. What is the most appropriate immediate intervention?

    Answer: Administer epinephrine IM immediately

    Hives, wheezing, and hypotension together constitute anaphylaxis, which requires immediate IM epinephrine as the definitive life-saving first-line treatment.