title: 'Do you know where your cyanide kit is?': a study of perceived and actual antidote availability to emergency departments in the South West of England.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors set out to investigate perceived and actual availability of antidotes recommended for stocking in emergency departments (EDs) by the College of Emergency Medicine in EDs in the South West of England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collectors were asked to physically locate each relevant antidote in the ED, and check whether the recommended quantity was available. If the antidote was not available in the department, the data collector located where in the hospital stocks were available. Senior medical and nursing staff were asked to specify where they believed the antidotes were stored or who they would ask if they did not know. It was then ascertained whether their source of advice would have known the location.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5 out of 6 departments returned data with an overall response rate from senior medical and nursing staff of 80%. Knowledge of common antidote locations was variable, and stocking of antidotes did not universally meet the College of Emergency Medicine recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stocking of important antidotes should be rationalised and simplified using central locations, preferably close to the ED. Clinically important antidotes may not be available for patients when they need them. Clear guidance should be available for staff detailing the location of antidotes. There is a need for clarification around the treatment of cyanide poisoning to facilitate rational antidote stocking for this potentially lethal condition.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, UK.
authors.forename: Louisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Higginson
authors.forename: Jason E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Swains
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farrant
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gagg
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindenbaum
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mathieu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000931:Antidotes / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000592:standards*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes