Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

What is the most common route of poisoning?

1. Inhalation

2. Absorption

3. Injection

4. Ingestion

The correct answer is: Ingestion

The most common route of poisoning is ingestion. This method occurs when a substance is swallowed and enters the digestive system, which can often happen accidentally, especially with children. Many household items, medications, and chemicals are accessible and can easily be ingested, leading to poisoning incidents. This route's prevalence is underscored by the fact that many poisons are deliberately designed to be ingested, such as medications and food contaminants. Additionally, ingestion allows for a large volume of the toxin to enter the body at once, which can lead to quicker and more severe toxicity compared to other routes. In contrast, while inhalation and absorption through the skin can also lead to poisoning, these routes usually require more specific conditions to occur. Injection, though potentially dangerous, is less common as an unintentional route of exposure in everyday scenarios compared to ingestion.