Upon entering a business for a patient with dizziness and nausea, what should you do if you detect a strong odor and your eyes begin to water?

In a situation where there is a strong odor that causes physical symptoms like watering eyes, prioritizing personal safety and the safety of others is essential. Leaving the area allows you to remove yourself from a potentially hazardous environment where harmful chemicals or substances could be present.

Calling for additional resources ensures that specialized personnel, such as fire department hazardous materials teams or emergency medical services trained in handling such situations, can respond effectively. This action helps to ensure the safety of all individuals in the area, including the patient, by addressing any potential toxic threats.

Evaluating the patient without addressing the immediate environmental danger could put you at risk if the odor indicates a chemical leak or other hazardous situation. Furthermore, asking business staff about the source of the odor does not guarantee safety and could expose you to more danger if they are unaware of the hazards. Putting on protective gear may enable a continued assessment, but if the threat is significant, leaving the environment is still the safest initial response.