The National Capital Poison Center reports that over 2 million people each year call in about poisoning, either for themself or someone they know. Many poisoning symptoms are similar to symptoms of other issues, such as seizures or strokes, and are difficult to detect without prior knowledge. With Poison Awareness Week coming up between March 16-22, it’s important to highlight the danger poison poses, how to determine if someone is poisoned, and what you can do to treat them before emergency services arrive to assist further.
Your Most Important Poisoning Treatment Resource
First, if you believe someone you know has been poisoned or is currently suffering from poison, call the Poison Help line at 800-222-1222 in the general United States or contact the Missouri Poison Control to get a better idea of how you can assist. Poison control centers are vital resources around poison information and can guide you through the identification and treatment steps while emergency responders arrive to help. If the victim is stable, call poison control. Otherwise, call 911 immediately to get emergency response personnel on the scene for treatment as soon as possible.
Always Call Emergency Services
There are a wide range of signs that someone has been poisoned, including:
Drowsy or unconscious suddenly.
Having difficulty breathing or stopped breathing.
Having seizures.
Uncontrollably restless or agitated.
Known to take medicine or substances that may lead to accidental overdoses.
You’ll want to know the person’s symptoms when you call either 911 or Poison Control so you can begin providing assistance while emergency aid is on the way. You’ll also want to provide their age, weight, and other pertinent information that could identify the poison and circumstances around it, as all of these factor into its lethality. If there is a pill bottle associated with the poisoning, have that on hand to provide as important information to first responders or the poison control center responder.
Important Poison Symptoms to Know
Poisoning symptoms can be tricky, as many mimic other conditions like seizures, alcohol intoxication, or strokes. Symptoms may include:
Burns or redness around the mouth and lips.
Breath smelling like chemicals, such as paint thinner or gasoline.
Confusion or altered mental state.
Difficulty breathing.
Drowsiness.
Vomiting.
Look for clues on or near the victim, such as pill bottles, odd odors, stains, or burns.
If you suspect poisoning, be alert for clues such as empty pill bottles or packages, burns, odors, stains, or nearby objects. If the victim is a child, consider that they may have taken prescription medicine or swallowed something like a battery.
Stay calm and assess the degree of danger the victim is in. If they are capable, have them describe what they believe led to the poisoning. Otherwise, use context clues nearby combined with the symptoms to reach a determination or approximation.
How to Provide Effective Poison Treatment
Until help arrives, you have a few options at your disposal to assist the victim, including:
Remove the remaining poison from the person's mouth. If the suspected poison is a household chemical, read the container label carefully for instructions around accidental poisoning.
Remove any contaminated clothing using gloves. Rinse the affected skin for 15-20 minutes in a shower or with a hose, being careful not to touch it yourself.
If poison is spilled in the eye, gently flush it with cool or lukewarm water for 20 minutes or until help arrives.
If a battery was ingested, especially by a child, they are in danger of it getting stuck in the esophagus and causing severe tissue burns. Take the victim to get emergency X-rays immediately so professionals can handle the battery removal.
If the poison was inhaled, such as excessive paint fumes or carbon monoxide, get the person into fresh air as soon as possible.
If a poison victim is vomiting, turn their head to the side to prevent choking. Do not lay them fully on their back with their face up, as the vomit could get stuck in their throat and cause them to choke.
If the victim shows no life signs like moving, breathing, or coughing, begin to perform CPR.
Keeping You Safe Through Rapid Response Poison Treatment
Eureka Fire Protection District values your safety above all else. If you believe you or someone you know has ingested something poisonous, from too much alcohol to a drug overdose, call us. Our team will be there to help you assess the situation and provide poison treatment immediately. For those who are victims of drug-related poisoning like an opioid overdose, we provide narcan to bring them back to consciousness so we can provide aid. Don’t wait, call 911 at the first sign of trouble and our team will be on the way.
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