Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - Grading Clinical Severity

Clinical Findings

Grade

Severity Score

The patient is alert and oriented to person, place and time.

Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, and/or nausea.

1

0

The patient is alert but shows altered mental status; the patient may be disoriented to time, place or person.

The patient may be confused and show abnormal behavior.

Symptoms (headache, dizziness, nausea, etc.) more pronounced than Grade 1.

2

1

The patient is not alert.

If not intubated, the patient's attention is easily engaged.

The patient may be disoriented and show loss of recent memory, muscle weakness, and/or incoordination.

If intubated, the response to simple commands are appropriate.

3

3

The patient is very disoriented and the sensorium is depressed.

Responses to simple commands limited and frequently inappropriate.

If not intubated, the patient's attention is engaged with difficulty.

If intubated, the patient is frequently combative, requiring restraint and/or sedation.

4

5

The patient is comatose.

The patient may respond either only to pain or may not respond to any stimulus.

5

10