First Aid Treatment for Absorbed Poisons

In mild cases, patient's who absorb poison through their skin may have swelling skin, rash, itching, burning or blisters

The symptoms may be delayed; In more serious cases, patient's may also complain of difficulty breathing, fever, headache and weakness

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

Treat Absorbed Poison