Home Health Center Poisoning   Poisoning - First Aid

First Aid for Poisoning

 If you or someone you know has been exposed to or consumed a poison, call for an ambulance or the U.S. National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately. In the time spent waiting for the ambulance to arrive and medical treatment to begin, there are specific first aid dos and don'ts for poisoning:

• Never induce vomiting or give the patient Ipecac to vomit

• Do not use active charcoal at home. Only trained medical personnel should administer this treatment.

• Follow the instructions of your doctor or from the poison control center and keep a check on new symptoms developing or increasing in intensity.

• Monitor the person's breathing and pulse rate. If necessary, you can start CPR.

• If the patient begins to vomit, make sure his airway is clear. Roll the person on to his side and keep him in this position till the ambulance arrives.

• If poison has splashed on the skin, remove the clothing soaked with the poison and rinse the skin with running water.

• If poisoning is caused by inhalation, open all windows and doors.

• Never light a match in a room that may have a gas leak.



Frequently asked questions

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References

1. Melvin Lewis, Albert J. Solnit, Mary H. Stark, Ira W. Gabrielson, Ethelyn H. Klatskin, AN EXPLORATION STUDY OF ACCIDENTAL INGESTION OF POISON IN YOUNG CHILDREN, Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, Volume 5, Issue 2, April 1966, Pages 255-271, ISSN 0002-7138, 10.1016/S0002-7138(09)62057-4.
2. Andrew J. Goddard, James Dear, Management of the poisoned patient, Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine, Volume 11, Issue 11, November 2010, Pages 490-493, ISSN 1472-0299, 10.1016/j.mpaic.2010.08.011.
3. Christopher P. Holstege, Stephen G. Dobmeier, Laura K. Bechtel, Critical Care Toxicology, Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, Volume 26, Issue 3, August 2008, Pages 715-739, ISSN 0733-8627, 10.1016/j.emc.2008.04.003.
4. Donald D. Vernon, Martin C. Gleich, POISONING AND DRUG OVERDOSE, Critical Care Clinics, Volume 13, Issue 3, 1 July 1997, Pages 647-667, ISSN 0749-0704, 10.1016/S0749-0704(05)70333-X.