Paint, lacquer and varnish removers

Home treatment:

for benzene: DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING).

for petroleum hydrocarbons: DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING)

for methylene chloride and methyl alcohol: DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING).

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• name of product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• for benzene
  • Establish and maintain airway.
  • Bed rest.
  • Treat the symptoms.

• for petroleum hydrocarbons
  • Induce emesis (This should only be done on a health care - provider's supervision, as one needs to prevent any vomit from getting into the lungs).
  • Administer activated charcoal.
  • Use gastric lavage.
  • Administer a cathartic (bowel evacuator).
  • Treat the symptoms.

• for methylene chloride
  • Induce emesis.
  • Administer activated charcoal.
  • Use gastric lavage.
  • Treat the symptoms.

• for methyl alcohol
  • Induce emesis.
  • Measure levels of alcohol in blood.
  • Give ethanol (ethyl alcohol) as an antidote. This must only be - given in a health care facility as the amount to be given and the route it is to be given are determined by blood levels of - methanol and other factors.
  • Use gastric lavage.
  • Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

for benzene:

• If the symptoms progress rapidly, the likelihood of recovery is not very good. Deaths have occurred as late as 3 days after ingestion of the product.

for petroleum hydrocarbons:

• If the patient survives the first 24 hours, the amount of damage to the lungs seems to dictate the length of recovery.

for methylene chloride:

• Swallowing methylene chloride may result in a narrowing of the inside of the intestinal tract, from damage caused by the chemical.

for methyl alcohol:

• Methanol is extremely toxic. As little as 2 TABLEspoonsful can be fatal to a child, while 2 to 8 oz. can be fatal for an adult. The ultimate outcome depends on how much was swallowed and how soon appropriate care could be given.