Poisoning

Overview
· Poisons are substances that cause injury, illness or death
· These events are caused by a chemical activity in the cells
· Poisons can be injected, inhaled or swallowed
· Poisoning should be suspected if a person is sick for unknown reason
· Poor ventilation can aggravate Inhalation poisoning
· First aid is critical in saving the life of victims
Causes
· Medications
· Drug overdose
· Occupational exposure
· Cleaning detergents/paints
· Carbon mono oxide gas from furnace, heaters
· Insecticides
· Certain cosmetics
· Certain household plants, animals
· Food poisoning (Botulism)
Symptoms
· Blue lips
· Skin Rashes
· Difficulty in breathing
· Diarrhea
· Vomiting/Nausea
· Fever
· Head ache
· Giddiness/drowsiness
· Double vision
· Abdominal/chest pain
· Palpitations/Irritability
· Loss of appetite/bladder control
· Numbness
· Muscle twitching
· Seizures
· Weakness
· Loss of consciousness
Treatment
· Seek immediate medical help
Meanwhile,
· Try and identify the poison if possible
· Check for signs like burns around mouth, breathing difficulty or vomiting
· Induce vomiting if poison swallowed
· In case of convulsions, protect the person from self injury
· If the vomit falls on the skin, wash it thoroughly
· Position the victim on the left till medical help arrives

For inhalation poisoning
· Seek immediate emergency help
· Get help before you attempt to rescue others
· Hold a wet cloth to cover your nose and mouth
· Open all the doors and windows
· Take deep breaths before you begin the rescue
· Avoid lighting a match
· Check the patient's breathing
· Do a CPR, if necessary
· If the patient vomits, take steps to prevent choking

Steps to Avoid
· Avoid giving an unconscious victim anything orally
· Do not induce vomiting unless told by a medical personnel
· Do not give any medication to the victim unless directed by a doctor
· Do not neutralize the poison with limejuice/honey

Prevention
· Store medicines, cleaning detergents, mosquito repellants and paints carefully
· Keep all potentially poisonous substances out of children's reach
· Label the poisons in your house
· Avoid keeping poisonous plants in or around house
· Take care while eating products such as berries, roots or mushrooms
· Teach children the need to exercise caution