First Aid For Poisoning Emergency

Poisoning may be accidental or intentional - drugs, chemicals, and household cleaners are all potential poisons. They can hurt or kill you! Children are the most common victims of accidental poisoning. Adults and adolescents sometimes use poison to end their lives. A poison or toxin can affect the individual through skin contact, injection, Fume Inhalation, or swallowing. Know the number of your local Poison Help Center. Remember, in the United States call 1-800-222-1222. All questions about poisons are smart questions.

Signs & Symptoms:
- Nausea, vomiting
- Headache
- Altered consciousness
- Abdominal pain
- Local irritation at site of exposure (eye, skin, airway)

Tips:
- Do not rely solely on a container's label for first aid information.
- Do not force vomiting or give fluids to victim unless told to by a physician or the Poison Help Center. Be sure the victim is fully conscious beforehand.
- Do not assume everyone wants to get well. Don't leave a victim alone if attempted suicide is suspected.
- Call for medical help.
- Protect yourself from exposure to the poison while administering first aid.
- For poison in the eye follow instructions for Chemical Burns of the Eyes.
- For poison on the skin take off any clothing that the poison touched and rinse the skin with running water for at least 20 minutes and continue until any irritation subsides.
- For inhaled poison, move the victim to fresh air right away. Monitor for Breathing Problems.
- Call Poison Help Center for specific instructions. They will want to know:
- Type of poison
- How it happened
- Age of victim
- Estimated amount and time occurred
- Victim's condition
- Follow Poison Help Center's instructions!