Difficulty breathing. Drowsiness. Slurred speech, as if the person has had too much to drink. Loss of consciousness. Shaking or trembling hands. Seizures or convulsions. Unsteady gait when the person is walking. Extreme restlessness or agitation.
If the person is still conscious, ask them lots of questions, such as what they took, whether it was by mouth or injection, and who their next of kin is. The more information you can get, the easier it will be for the emergency medical technicians to help them. Deliberate or accidental poisoning with large doses of medication or drugs is often accompanied by alcohol use, but they might also be using harder drugs. Check for track marks on their arms if you suspect drug use.
If you live in the U. S. , call the national Poison Control hotline at 1-800-222-1222. You can also ask the emergency services operator for the number. You can also get quick information about poisons at https://www. poisonhelp. org/help. If you live outside the U. S. , do a web search for your local or national poison information helpline. For example, in the UK, you can call NHS 111 for advice. [5] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
Any symptoms the person is having. The person’s age and approximate weight. Any medications or dietary supplements the person is taking. How much of the poison the person ingested, inhaled, or came into contact with (if you know). How long it has been since you found the person. If you are the person who’s been poisoned, let them know how long ago you came into contact with the poison. What kind of poison the person was exposed to (if you know). If the poison came from a package or container, keep it on hand so that you can give information from the label. This is also important if the poison was due to fumes from a chemical. If the poison seems to have been from berries or mushrooms, take a sample to bring along.
Perform imaging tests, such as X-rays or CT scans. Provide breathing support, such as an oxygen mask, a breathing tube, or a ventilator. Do tests on the person’s blood and urine. Offer medical treatments such as chemical antidotes, activated charcoal tablets (to absorb poison in the gut), medication to induce vomiting, or laxatives to flush poison from body.
If you find yourself panicking, stop what you’re doing for a moment and take a few deep breaths if it is safe to do so.
The instructions may differ depending on the type of exposure. For example, if the person swallowed the substance, they may need emergency medical care. If they spilled it on their hands, it may be enough to rinse their skin under cool water for several minutes.
If you swallowed the poison, spit out as much of it as you can. Do not put your hands in the person’s mouth. Never induce vomiting unless a doctor or poison control specialist tells you to. Forcing someone who has been poisoned to throw up may do more harm than good. This is why it is necessary for them (or you) to go to an emergency room.
If the person vomits after eating a poisonous plant, save some of the vomit if you can. Medical personnel may be able to identify the plant by looking at fragments in the vomit. Keep the person on their side with their head turned to one side to prevent them from choking on vomit. If you’ve been poisoned and feel like you might vomit, lie down on your side so that you don’t choke on or inhale any of the vomit.
Try to put the clothing somewhere where it won’t contaminate other clothes or surfaces, such as in a garbage bag. Make sure to launder any contaminated clothing before anyone wears it again.
If you have spilled poison on your own skin, get into a shower or rinse off with a hose if feel like you can safely do so. Contact a poison control center (or check the packaging on the spilled product, if it’s a household chemical) to find out if you should use a cleaning agent in addition to water, such as mild hand soap. [13] X Research source
Remove any contact lenses before flushing your/someone else’s eyes with water. Avoid rubbing your eyes or discourage the affected person from doing so, since this can make the problem worse. Don’t put eyedrops or any other substances in your/the person’s eyes unless directed to do so by a poison control expert or medical professional.
If you’re concerned about your own safety, contact emergency services before trying to rescue the person. Open doors and windows in the area to clear out any lingering fumes. Hold a damp cloth over your mouth and nose while you’re in the area with the poison fumes. Hold your breath as much as possible while you’re near the source of the fumes. Have the person checked by a doctor even if they don’t have any obvious symptoms of poisoning. If you’ve been exposed to poison fumes, call emergency services even if you feel fine.
This position will help keep your airways open and clear in case you lose consciousness or vomit. Stay in this position until help arrives.
If you’re not trained in CPR or are worried about coming into contact with poison from the person’s mouth, don’t attempt rescue breathing. Just do 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute until help arrives. [18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If the person is a child, perform child CPR.
If a doctor, emergency technician, or poison control expert tells you to induce vomiting, follow their directions carefully.
Only administer medications or other substances to yourself or any poisoned person if you are told to do so by a doctor or poison control specialist.
For example, do not enter an area with poison fumes or smoke if you don’t feel like you can do so safely.
If someone is with you, you could also ask them to drive you to the emergency room.
Putting something in an unconscious person’s mouth could cause them to choke or inhale the foreign substance. If someone is convulsing, putting an object in their mouth could break their teeth or cause them to choke. If the person vomits and is not convulsing, you can gently swipe your fingers across the inside of their mouth to clear their airway.
