Difference between revisions of "Treat Poisoning"
m (importing article from wikihow) |
m (Text replacement - "== Video ==" to "") |
||
| (6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
#[[Call Emergency Services | Call emergency services]] or a poison control hotline immediately. Swallowing a poison can lead to serious complications that can't be addressed without medical intervention. If you suspect someone has swallowed a poison, get help right away. Try to determine what caused the poisoning and have the person's age and weight ready to give to the person who answers the phone. | #[[Call Emergency Services | Call emergency services]] or a poison control hotline immediately. Swallowing a poison can lead to serious complications that can't be addressed without medical intervention. If you suspect someone has swallowed a poison, get help right away. Try to determine what caused the poisoning and have the person's age and weight ready to give to the person who answers the phone. | ||
#*Look for pills, plants or berries ([[Identify Common Poisonous Berries in North America|berries]]), mouth burns, etc. Knowing the source of the poison is essential for treatment purposes. | #*Look for pills, plants or berries ([[Identify Common Poisonous Berries in North America|berries]]), mouth burns, etc. Knowing the source of the poison is essential for treatment purposes. | ||
| − | #*If the person is unconscious or otherwise exhibiting severe symptoms, skip the call to poison control and seek medical help right away. <ref>https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007579.htm</ref> | + | #*If the person is unconscious or otherwise exhibiting severe symptoms, skip the call to poison control and seek medical help right away. <ref name="rf1">https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007579.htm</ref> |
#*If you're not sure what the person swallowed, seek immediate medical help, no matter what the symptoms are. | #*If you're not sure what the person swallowed, seek immediate medical help, no matter what the symptoms are. | ||
| − | #*If the person has just swallowed the poisonous substance, and you're not sure whether or not it will become a serious issue, call poison control at 800-222-1222 (in the United States).<ref>http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-poisoning/FA00029</ref> Poison control is a hotline staffed with attendants who can tell you what measures to take to help the person who has been poisoned, and whether you'll need to go to the hospital. | + | #*If the person has just swallowed the poisonous substance, and you're not sure whether or not it will become a serious issue, call poison control at 800-222-1222 (in the United States).<ref name="rf2">http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-poisoning/FA00029</ref> Poison control is a hotline staffed with attendants who can tell you what measures to take to help the person who has been poisoned, and whether you'll need to go to the hospital. |
| − | #Clear the person's airway. If the person swallowed a household product, pills, or another substance, it's important to make sure none remains in the mouth or air passage. Wrap a clean towel around your hand. Open the person's mouth and remove traces of the substance using the towel.<ref | + | #Clear the person's airway. If the person swallowed a household product, pills, or another substance, it's important to make sure none remains in the mouth or air passage. Wrap a clean towel around your hand. Open the person's mouth and remove traces of the substance using the towel.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*If the person vomits, continue monitoring the airway and keeping the mouth area clean. | #*If the person vomits, continue monitoring the airway and keeping the mouth area clean. | ||
#*If you're not sure what the person swallowed, keep the soiled towel to bring with you to the hospital for testing. | #*If you're not sure what the person swallowed, keep the soiled towel to bring with you to the hospital for testing. | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
#Call for emergency help. Poisoning by inhalation can lead to serious medical issues, and it's important to get emergency medical professionals involved. Inhalation could also affect others nearby, so don't try to handle the situation by yourself. | #Call for emergency help. Poisoning by inhalation can lead to serious medical issues, and it's important to get emergency medical professionals involved. Inhalation could also affect others nearby, so don't try to handle the situation by yourself. | ||
#Leave the toxic area immediately. Poisoning by inhalation can occur as a result of toxic fumes, smoke, or gas. Move the person, and anyone else in the vicinity, to an area safe from these substances. It's best to go outdoors, well away from the building where the inhalation occurred. | #Leave the toxic area immediately. Poisoning by inhalation can occur as a result of toxic fumes, smoke, or gas. Move the person, and anyone else in the vicinity, to an area safe from these substances. It's best to go outdoors, well away from the building where the inhalation occurred. | ||
| − | #*If you have to rescue the person from a building, hold your breath as you go in. Cover your mouth and nose with a wet piece of cloth to filter the air.<ref | + | #*If you have to rescue the person from a building, hold your breath as you go in. Cover your mouth and nose with a wet piece of cloth to filter the air.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#*Some toxic gases, like carbon monoxide, don't have a smell and can't be detected except by a special detector. Don't assume that just because you don't smell or see something toxic, a room or building is safe. | #*Some toxic gases, like carbon monoxide, don't have a smell and can't be detected except by a special detector. Don't assume that just because you don't smell or see something toxic, a room or building is safe. | ||
#*If it's impossible to move the person, open the doors and windows to let fresh air inside and let the fumes or gas escape. | #*If it's impossible to move the person, open the doors and windows to let fresh air inside and let the fumes or gas escape. | ||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
#*Don't use hot or cold water to flush the area. | #*Don't use hot or cold water to flush the area. | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
**Australia (24 hours a day, 7 days a week - Australia wide): '''13 11 26''' | **Australia (24 hours a day, 7 days a week - Australia wide): '''13 11 26''' | ||
**New Zealand National Poisons Center (24 hours): '''0800 764 766''' | **New Zealand National Poisons Center (24 hours): '''0800 764 766''' | ||
| − | *Do not administer syrup of ipecac. This is no longer advised as an appropriate approach to treating poisoning and can either mask symptoms or interfere with reliable treatment options.<ref>Global Crisis Solution Center, http://globalcrisis.info/poisonemergency.html#AAA</ref> [[Stop Vomiting|Vomiting]] alone will not remove poisons from a stomach.<ref>Wikipedia, Syrup of Ipecac, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrup_of_Ipecac</ref> | + | *Do not administer syrup of ipecac. This is no longer advised as an appropriate approach to treating poisoning and can either mask symptoms or interfere with reliable treatment options.<ref name="rf3">Global Crisis Solution Center, http://globalcrisis.info/poisonemergency.html#AAA</ref> [[Stop Vomiting|Vomiting]] alone will not remove poisons from a stomach.<ref name="rf4">Wikipedia, Syrup of Ipecac, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrup_of_Ipecac</ref> |
== Warnings == | == Warnings == | ||
