What is the mnemonic to remember the signs and symptoms of nerve agent exposure?

The mnemonic to remember the signs and symptoms of nerve agent exposure is DUMBELS. Each letter in DUMBELS corresponds to a key symptom associated with exposure to nerve agents:

• D: Diarrhea

• U: Urination

• M: Miosis (constriction of the pupils)

• B: Bronchospasm/Bronchorrhea (excessive secretions or difficulty breathing)

• E: Emesis (vomiting)

• L: Lacrimation (excessive tearing)

• S: Salivation (excessive drooling)

This mnemonic is particularly useful for emergency medical personnel and first responders to quickly recall the critical symptoms to look for when assessing a patient who may have been exposed to nerve agents. By using DUMBELS, responders can identify the need for rapid intervention, including the administration of antidotes and supportive care, facilitating timely and effective patient management.

Other mnemonics provided, such as ABCDE and SLUDGET, represent different aspects of patient assessment or other conditions but are not specifically focused on the signs and symptoms of nerve agent exposure. For example, ABCDE is often used in trauma assessments focusing on airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure. SLUDGET also