Start

You are a junior doctor just starting your day shift in Accident and Emergency (A&E). 'Here's a good patient to start your day off' says the triage nurse as she hands you the next A&E card. You read the triage information:

• Patient: Lewis Mullen

• Age: 35 years

• Problem: overdose - was brought in by a friend having taken some tablets. He has been vomiting and smells of alcohol.

• Observations: Temp: 36.2oC, Heart rate: 82, BP: 132/78, Sats: 97% in air.

'Good luck getting a history from him' says the triage nurse, 'I think he has drunk a fair bit, he only grunted at me.'

What do you do?