First Aid - Poisoning

The number of substances that can cause danger when introduces into the body are so great that only those most likely to be found in the average household are considered here.

Most of the poisoning accidents occur at home and a very large number of victims are children between the age of one and six. The very young child, the one who is "into everything"-curious, imitative, inexperienced, and illiterate-is not going to keep away from danger. It must be kept away from them.

Poisons can get into the body by one of the following routes:

• By swallowing
• By Inhalation
• By Contact with the skin
• By Injection

Management Guidelines

• Moving the patient to the hospital or a doctor is the highest priority and needs to be done as quickly as possible.
• Preserve the packets or bottles of the suspected poison and also any of the vomit material, sputum etc. for the doctor to examine.
• If the patient is unconscious, do not induce vomiting.
• Make the patient lie on his back on a hard, flat bed without any pillow and turn the head to one side. As there is no pressure on the stomach and the gullet is horizontal, the vomited matter will not get into the air passages. This is also a good posture for giving artificial respiration if needed.
• Sometimes when there is excess vomiting the three quarter-prone position (when the patient is made to lie on his side with one leg stretched and the other bent at the knee and the thigh) will make things easier for the patient.
• If the breathing is very slow or has stopped, start artificial respiration and continue till the doctor comes.
• If the patient is conscious, and the poison is not a corrosive, aid vomiting by tickling the back of the throat or make him drink moderately warm water mixed with two table spoonfuls of common salt for one tumbler of water.
• When the poison is a corrosive do not induce vomiting. Signs of corrosive poisoning include grayish white or yellowish burn patches around the lips and mouth.

Most Common Poisons and There First Aid Treatment

Poison (Source)	Symptoms	First Aid Treatment
Phosphorus ( Rat Poisons and Match Heads, fireworks)	Upper Gastrointestinal tract pain, garlic odor of breath, vomiting of blood, bloody diarrhea, if patient survives, remission of symptoms in 2 to 3 days. Later symptoms Jaundice, enlargement of liver, skin eruptions, pulse weak, heart weak and convulsions.	Induce vomiting either with copper sulphate 1:1000 solution or potassium permanganate 1:2000 solution and repeat 3 to 4 time per hour until 5 to 10 liters of solution have been used. In the absence of these use tap water. Give white of eggs, beaten in milk as demulcent or mineral oil.
Fluorides ( Bug Killers and Cockroach Killers)	Nausea, vomiting, abnormal cramps, weakness, fall in blood pressure, deep rapid respiration, convulsions and cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes from lack of oxygen).	Induce vomiting with skimmed milk. Give white of eggs, beaten in milk as demulcent.
Petrol, Paraffin, Kerosene (Houses, Garages)	Vomiting, vertigo, weaken irregular pulse, convulsions, dim vision, cold and numb hands, drowsiness and confusion.	Induce Vomiting with salad oil or warm saline water. Observe the patient carefully till medical help arrives.
Mercury (Calomel, Teething Powders, Thermometer)	Severe pain in mouth, throat, stomach, increase in salvia, blood and mucus in vomit, watery bloody diarrhea, followed by muscle cramps and weakness.	Give white of egg beaten with water or skimmed milk immediately.
Sleeping Tablets	Cause drowsiness, low blood pressure, tremor, blurring of vision, stiffness of muscles, dryness of mouth and coma	Induce Vomiting by giving Magnesium Sulphate (2tsp. in water). Give hot coffee. Keep the patient awake.
Aspirin (Aspirin Tablets)	Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tinnitus, spontaneous breathing, convulsions, uremia and coma.	Induce vomiting by soda bicarbonate (one tsp. to a tumbler of Water). Strong coffee or tea may be given.
Arsenic (Ant or Rat Poisons, Weed Killers)	Severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, difficulty in swelling, urinary suppression and muscle cramps .	Induce vomiting with the finger or give 1 tablespoon full of table salt of 1 teaspoon full of powdered mustard in water. Follow with 500ml of skimmed milk.
Opium (Hospitals, Some Chemical Mixtures, Opium addicts)	Mental exhilaration, followed by drowsiness. Pupils of eyes pinpoint, slow, shallow breathing, slow onset of unconsciousness, muscles relaxed, skin pale, cold sweat, blue lips, irregular breathing	Induce vomiting with 1:2000 potassium permanganate solution at short intervals. Follow this with strong coffee or tea and keep the patient awake and warm until the physician arrives.

Prevention Guidelines

1. Keep all medicines, cosmetics, cleaning fluids, rat poisons and insecticides where children cannot get at them. A locked cabinet is the only safe place.
2. Never keep drugs, chemicals or household cleaners in containers originally used for food or drink.
3. Be sure that the labels of medicinal bottle clearly state what the medicine is for, the doses, and how often it is to be taken.
4. Never use a preparation known to be actively poisonous when a less dangerous one will serve. 
5. All drugs and chemicals should be clearly labeled.
6. Discard all prescription drugs that are left over when the need for them is past.
7. Never take a medicine without reading the label.
8. Avoid taking medicine in front of young children. In a household with young children a locked medicine cabinet is insurance against tragedy.
9. If you must carry drugs with you never leave them in purse or coat pocket where children can get them.
10. Always ask your doctor about the possible effect of overdosing of prescription drugs.

Homoeopathic Treatment

Phosphorus Poisoning: Nux Vom 30C, 200C, 1M, Lachesis30c, Phosphorus 30C or higher.

Mercury Poisoning: Aurm Met 30C, Carbo Veg 30C or higher, Kali Iod 30C, Lachesis 30C, Merc Sol 30C or higher, Nat Sulph 1M,  Hepar Sulph 200C, 1M, Nitric Acid 1M, Sulphur 30C or higher.

Sleeping Pills Poisoning: Nux Vom 30C, 200C, 1M; Pulsatilla 30C, 200C, 1M.

Aspirin Poisoning: Nux Vom 30C, 200C, Pulsatilla 30C or higher.

Arsenic Poisoning: Hepar Sulph 200C, 1M, Nux Vom 30C, 200C, 1M, China 30C or higher

Opium Poisoning: Chammomilla 200C, 1M, Nux Vom 200C, 1M, Belladonna 30C, 200C , Opium 1M,  Lachesis 30C, Avena Sativa Q, Berb.Vulg Q.

Warning

Majority of Poisonous cases are medico-legal cases as such it is advisable that in every case patient should be immediately shifted to a Hospitals (Govt.)

Updated on: 01 Feb 2010