First Aid Treatment For Poisoning

Ingested Poisons - medications, chemicals, cleaners, solvents, pesticides and plant material
Inhaled Poisons - carbon monoxide, gases and toxic fumes
Absorbed Poisons - poison ivy, oak or sumac and chemical sprays
Food Poisoning - ingested poisoning by foods

Important Information
• Suspect poisoning when a source is nearby or patient's state that they came into contact with toxic substances
• Different chemicals cause different reactions within the body; In general, people who have ingested poison may have burns or stains around the mouth, excessive salivation, sweating, nausea and tear formation; Their breath may smell like chemicals and they may have difficulty breathing; Vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, drowsiness and unconsciousness may occur
• If you inhale carbon monoxide or other harmful substances, you may experience headache, dizziness, nausea and chest tightness; You may cough, wheeze and have difficulty breathing; The skin may become pale, then bluish with cherry-red appearance on nail beds & lips
• In mild cases, patient's who absorb poison through their skin may have swelling skin, rash, itching, burning and/or blisters; The symptoms may be delayed; In more serious cases, patient's may also complain of difficulty breathing, fever, headache and weakness
• Food poisoning occurs when people eat foods that are contaminated by bacteria or eat food that is toxic, such as certain mushrooms, fish or shellfish; The symptoms can be delayed and include severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and general discomfort
• Treat any suspected ingested or inhaled poison, or any poisoning that alters the patient's breathing or conscious level, as a medical emergency; Follow primary care procedures
• If possible, contact your local Poison Control Centre for directions while waiting for EMS to arrive

Keep It Safe - Do's & Don'ts to avoid accidental poisoning
DO - follow directions and labels on chemical products
DO - use safety locks on cabinets and keep harmful substances out of small children's reach
DO - store chemicals, cleaners and medicines in original containers, clearly marked and separated from non-poisonous items
DO - return chemical products to safe storage after use
DO - know what kind of plants you have in and around your home
DO - wear protective clothing and shields when spraying or handling toxic substances
DO - teach children about poisonous substances
DO - keep your local Poison Control Centre phone number near to the phone
DO - keep activated charcoal handy and use it only when instructed to do so by EMS, your doctor or Poison Control Centre

DO NOT - mix household cleaning products or other chemicals together
DO NOT - use food containers to store chemical products
DO NOT - call medicine 'Candy'
DO NOT - take medications in the dark
DO NOT - eat wild mushrooms or plant leaves, stems, roots or berries unless you are positive that they are non toxic
DO NOT - eat foods that may be spoiled or prepared in unclean conditions

Patient Care For Ingested Poison
STOP - Assess and observe the scene; Is there a poisonous substance nearby?
THINK - Consider your safety and form action plan; Can the substance harm me?
ACT - Check responsiveness and Alert EMS
Perform a primary and secondary assessment and monitor the patient's Cycle of Care - AB-CABS
For a responsive patient, conduct an illness assessment and gather information about what, when and how much poison was ingested while waiting for EMS to arrive
If available, read the label on the substance for poisoning instructions and call the Poison Control Center for further directions
If instructed to induce vomiting, use a substance recommended by the PCC; Save the vomitus and gather the poison container for EMS
Continue to follow Poison Control Center directions and support the patient until EMS arrives

Patient Care For Inhaled Poison
STOP - Assess and observe the scene; Is there a poisonous substance or fumes nearby? Be very cautious of entering enclosed spaces; Note: Poisonous gases are odorless and colorless; Emergency Responder safety must be considered at all times; It may be necessary to wait for EMS to arrive with independent breathing equipment
THINK - Consider your safety and form action plan; Can the substance harm me?
ACT - Check responsiveness and Alert EMS
If necessary, move the patient to an area with fresh air
Perform a primary and secondary assessment and monitor the patient's Cycle of Care - AB-CABS
For a responsive patient, help to loosen clothing around the neck and chest for easier breathing; Conduct an illness assessment and gather information about what, when and how much poison was inhaled while waiting for EMS to arrive
If available, read the label on the substance for poisoning instructions and call the Poison Control Center for further directions
If available and permitted to do so, administer emergency oxygen and continue to support the patient until EMS arrives

Patient Care For Absorbed Poison
STOP - Assess and observe the scene; Has the patient come into contact with a poisonous substance?
THINK - Consider your safety and form action plan; Can the substance harm me?
ACT - Check responsiveness and Alert EMS
Conduct an illness assessment and gather information about what, when and how much contact the patient had with the poison
Carefully remove contaminated clothing and brush off any poison remaining on the skin
Flush the area with fresh water and wash the skin with soap; Do not allow contaminated water to touch you or the patient
For caustic chemical substances or if the patient experiences severe symptoms, contact the local Poison Control Centre for further directions
If EMS is not called, encourage the person to see a doctor; A cold compress may relieve itching

Patient Care For Food Poisoning
STOP - Assess and observe the scene; Could the person have eaten something spoiled, contaminated or harmful?
THINK - Consider your safety and form action plan
ACT - Check responsiveness and Alert EMS as appropriate
Conduct an illness assessment and try to discover what they ate
If the patient shows signs of severe allergic reactions, treat appropriately; Monitor the patient's Cycle of Care until EMS arrives
If they vomit or have diarrhea, offer fluids to prevent dehydration; Continue to support the patient until recovered and consider saving a sample of expelled body fluids for examination to determine the type of poison
If the symptoms are severe, prolonged or get worse, transport the person to a medical facility

First Aid Advice & Information for Poisoning is a guide only - Click Here to get CPR & First Aid Training For Poisoning