What Routes are used for acetaminophen administration?

• A. PO (oral) and PR (rectal)
• B. IV only
• C. IM and IV
• D. Sublingual only

Answer: (A)

Acetaminophen is typically given in routes that are practical in prehospital care: by mouth or rectally. Oral administration allows straightforward dosing and quick absorption when the patient can swallow. Rectal administration provides an alternative when someone cannot take meds by mouth or is vomiting, giving a usable, if slower and more variable, absorption. Intravenous acetaminophen exists but is generally reserved for hospital settings under medical supervision, not standard EMT-B practice. IM and sublingual routes are not routinely used for acetaminophen in EMS. So, the combination of oral and rectal routes best matches typical prehospital administration.