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Scenario — Suspected paracetamol overdose — 8-year-old male
Patient Information
Dispatch
You are called to the first aid tent at the Fremantle Family Festival. A parent has brought in their 8-year-old son after finding him with an open bottle of children's paracetamol — she is unsure how many tablets he has taken.
Incident History
Mum found Liam sitting on the ground near the family's picnic bag approximately 20 minutes ago with an open 24-tablet bottle of Children's Panadol 120mg chewable tablets. She estimates the bottle was around half full before today. Liam says he had a headache and helped himself. He is now complaining of nausea and abdominal pain.
Emergency Contact
Sarah Hargreaves (Mother) 0412 774 903
Initial Rapid Assessment
Response
Alert
Airway
Patent. No airway obstruction. No stridor. Speaking in full sentences.
Breathing
Adequate. No increased work of breathing. No accessory muscle use. Chest rise equal bilaterally.
Circulation
Radial pulse present, regular, adequate rate. Skin warm, mild pallor. No external bleeding.
Disability
GCS 15 (E4V5M6). Alert and oriented to time, place and person. Mildly distressed and tearful.
Exposure
No rash, no visible injuries. Abdomen soft on inspection. Empty and partially empty paracetamol blister packs visible in family bag.
Vitals
Time SpO2 Resp Dist RR Pulse BP CRT GCS PERL Temp BGL Pain
Initial 99% (RA) Nil 22 104 98/64 <2s 15 4 4 ++ 37.1 4.8 mmol/L 4
10 mins 99% (RA) Nil 20 98 100/66 <2s 15 4 4 ++ 37.1 4.8 mmol/L 4
History Taking
Signs/Symptoms
Nausea, mild abdominal pain, headache (pre-existing — reason for self-medicating). No vomiting yet. No drowsiness. No visual disturbance.
Onset
Approximately 20–30 minutes ago. Mum found him shortly after ingestion.
Pain
Abdominal pain, diffuse, mild. Rates 4/10. Headache that prompted him to self-medicate.
Quality
Abdominal discomfort described as a dull ache. Nausea increasing.
Radiates
Nil radiation.
Severity
4/10 abdominal pain.
Allergies
No known drug or food allergies.
Medications
No regular medications. No other paracetamol-containing products taken today prior to this event.
Pertinent History
Healthy 8-year-old. No prior medical conditions. Immunisations up to date. No history of intentional self-harm — presentation appears unintentional.
Last Oral Intake
Ate a sandwich and juice approximately 1 hour ago at the festival.
Treatment
No treatment given prior to EHS arrival. Mum has not given him anything further.
Events Leading
Family attending Fremantle Family Festival. Liam developed a headache. He found the family's bottle of Children's Panadol 120mg chewable tablets in the picnic bag and self-administered an unknown quantity without parental knowledge.
Scenario Progression and Treatment Objectives

((If the trainee does not attempt to calculate dose or count remaining tablets: Mum reports the bottle had approximately 12 tablets left before today, meaning up to 12 tablets may have been consumed — 12 × 120mg = 1440mg total. At 26kg, this is approximately 55mg/kg, which exceeds the maximum recommended daily dose of 60mg/kg and approaches potentially toxic thresholds. Prompt the trainee: 'Can you work out how much he may have taken?'))

((If the trainee does not ask about other paracetamol-containing products e.g. cold and flu tablets, combination analgesics: Mum mentions she had some Codral in the bag as well — the trainee must ask specifically about all medications to rule out co-ingestion.))

((If the trainee attempts to administer paracetamol for the patient's headache: remind them that any paracetamol-containing product within the last four hours is a contraindication to further paracetamol administration per the Paracetamol CPG.))

((If the trainee does not contact the Poisons Information Centre or escalate to higher care within 5 minutes of assessment: Liam begins to vomit and his nausea worsens. Facilitator advises: 'Mum is asking what you are going to do — the hospital is 15 minutes away.'))

((If the trainee does not consider ondansetron for active vomiting: patient vomits a second time. Prompt: 'He's vomiting again — is there anything you can do for the nausea?'))

This patient is suffering from a suspected paracetamol overdose (unintentional) with an unknown quantity of Children's Panadol 120mg chewable tablets ingested approximately 20–30 minutes prior to EHS arrival.

  • Ensure scene safety and don appropriate PPE prior to patient contact.
  • Perform a structured Primary Survey — confirm patent airway, adequate breathing, adequate circulation, GCS 15.
  • Obtain a full set of baseline vital signs including BGL, temperature, SpO2, HR, RR, BP, pain score.
  • Perform a thorough IMISTAMBO-structured history, specifically asking: agent (paracetamol 120mg chewable), dose (count remaining tablets — estimate up to 12 tablets = 1440mg = approximately 55mg/kg at 26kg), time since ingestion (20–30 minutes), and clinical features (nausea, abdominal pain, no CNS depression).
  • Ask specifically about ALL medications in the bag to rule out co-ingestion (e.g. Codral or combination products containing codeine — note codeine is outside EHS scope).
  • Confirm no paracetamol or paracetamol-containing products given in the past 4 hours — DO NOT administer further paracetamol.
  • Do NOT induce vomiting.
  • Collect all medication packaging and place in patient medications bag for handover to ambulance/ED staff.
  • Consider administering Ondansetron 4mg oral wafer for active vomiting or moderate to severe nausea — Liam is >4 years and >15kg. Dose: Ondansetron 4mg oral wafer (single dose, not repeated). Confirm no hypersensitivity to ondansetron prior to administration.
  • Do NOT administer analgesia (paracetamol is contraindicated; methoxyflurane is not indicated for abdominal pain of toxic aetiology in this context and patient is alert and stable).
  • Administer oxygen only if SpO2 drops below 94% — not indicated at this time.
  • Consider contacting the Australian Poisons Information Centre (PIC) on 13 11 26 if non-time critical — in this case, arrange urgent transport and notify receiving ED.
  • Perform Secondary Survey — assess abdomen (soft, mildly tender, no guarding or rigidity), check for any additional ingestion evidence.
  • Reassess vital signs at 10 minutes post initial assessment.
  • Arrange Priority 1 transport with pre-notification to receiving ED — paediatric overdose with potentially toxic dose requires urgent medical review and possible N-acetylcysteine administration (out of EHS scope).
  • Maintain continuous reassurance of Liam and his mother throughout.
  • Ensure receiving hospital is informed of: agent, estimated dose (1440mg — 55mg/kg), time of ingestion, current clinical status, and any treatments administered.
  • Scenario ends on arrival of ambulance and IMISTAMBO handover.
  • Attention to hand hygiene will be given throughout the scenario.

Clinical references: Poisons & Overdoses · Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) · Ondansetron · Primary Survey · Secondary & CNS Survey · Pain Assessment