Gasoline

Home treatment:

Call the Poison Control center for guidance. DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING)!

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the time the gasoline 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. Bring the poison container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• Induce emesis (This should be done only under a health care provider's supervision, to prevent anything from getting into the lungs while the patient is vomiting).
• Administer activated charcoal.
• Use gastric lavage.
• Administer a cathartic (bowel evacuator).
• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

The amount of lung damage dictates the length of recovery time, if the patient survives the first 24 hours.