Poisoning first aid

First aid:

ALWAYS CALL YOUR LOCAL POISON CONTROL CENTER FOR ADVICE!

FOR POISONING BY SWALLOWING:

1. Check the victim's airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing and CPR.
2. Try to make sure that the victim has indeed been poisoned. It is not always obvious. Some signs include chemical-smelling breath, burns around the mouth, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or unusual odors on the victim. If possible, identify the poison.
3. Only induce vomiting if the poison control center tells you to do so.
4. To induce vomiting give the victim one tablespoon of ipecac syrup followed by 2 glasses of water. Another technique is to use a glass of warm water containing 3 teaspoons of salt or 1 spoonful of dried mustard. Two tablespoons of liquid dishwashing soap such as Joy or Ivory can be given, followed by water. However, if the victim is drowsy, do not induce vomiting.
5. If the victim vomits, protect the airway. If you must clear the victim's airway, wrap a cloth around your fingers before cleaning out his or her mouth and throat. If the victim has vomited a plant part, save the vomitus as it may contain spores that will allow it to be indentified by an expert who can determine an antidote.
6. Monitor the victim's vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure). If the victim starts having convulsions, protect him or her from injury and give convulsion, first aid.
7. Reassure the victim and keep him or her comfortable while getting or awaiting medical help. If the poison has spilled on the victim's clothes, remove the clothing and flush the skin with water.

FOR INHALATION POISONING:

1. Call for emergency help. Never attempt to rescue without notifying others first.
2. Rescue the victim from the danger of the gas, fumes, or smoke. Hold a wet cloth over your nose and mouth. Open windows and doors to remove the fumes.
3. Avoid lighting a match as some gases may ignite.
4. Take several deep breaths of fresh air, then hold your breath as you go in.
5. After rescuing the victim from danger, check his or her airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, perform rescue breathing and CPR.
6. As necessary, perform first aid for skin burns, eye injuries (eye emergencies), or convulsions (convulsion, first aid).
7. If the victim vomits, protect his or her airway.
8. Even if the victim seems perfectly fine, get medical help.

Do not:

• DO NOT give an unconscious victim anything by mouth.
• DO NOT induce vomiting unless you are told to do so by the Poison control Center or a doctor. A strong poison that burns on the way down the throat will also do damage on the way back up.
• DO NOT try to neutralize the poison with lemon juice or vinegar, or any other substance unless you are told to do so by the Poison Control Center or a doctor.
• DO NOT use any "cure-all" type antidote.
• DO NOT wait for symptoms to develop if you suspect that someone has been poisoned.

Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if:

• Someone has been poisoned. Call your local Poison control Center. See document on poison control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

Updated Date: 02/09/00

Updated By:J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial