The number of substances that can cause danger when
introduces into the body are so great that only those most likely to be
found in the average household are considered here.
Most of the poisoning accidents occur at home and a
very large number of victims are children between the age of one and
six. The very young child, the one who is "into everything"-curious, imitative,
inexperienced, and illiterate-is not going to keep away from danger. It
must be kept away from them.
Poisons can get into the body by one
of the following routes:
By swallowing
By Inhalation
By Contact with the skin
By Injection
Management Guidelines
Moving
the patient to the hospital or a doctor is the highest priority
and needs to be done as quickly as possible.
Preserve
the packets or bottles of the suspected poison and also any of the
vomit material, sputum etc. for the doctor to examine.
If the
patient is unconscious, do not induce vomiting.
Make the
patient lie on his back on a hard, flat bed without any pillow and
turn the head to one side. As there is no pressure on the stomach
and the gullet is horizontal, the vomited matter will not get into
the air passages. This is also a good posture for giving
artificial respiration if needed.
Sometimes
when there is excess vomiting the three quarter-prone position
(when the patient is made to lie on his side with one leg
stretched and the other bent at the knee and the thigh) will make
things easier for the patient.
If the
breathing is very slow or has stopped, start artificial
respiration and continue till the doctor comes.
If the
patient is conscious, and the poison is not a corrosive, aid
vomiting by tickling the back of the throat or make him drink
moderately warm water mixed with two table spoonfuls of common
salt for one tumbler of water.
When the
poison is a corrosive do not induce vomiting. Signs of corrosive
poisoning include grayish white or yellowish burn patches around
the lips and mouth.
Most Common Poisons and There
First Aid Treatment
Poison (Source)
Symptoms
First Aid Treatment
Phosphorus ( Rat
Poisons and Match Heads, fireworks)
Upper Gastrointestinal
tract pain, garlic odor of breath, vomiting of blood, bloody
diarrhea, if patient survives, remission of symptoms in 2 to 3
days. Later symptoms Jaundice, enlargement of liver, skin eruptions,
pulse weak, heart weak and convulsions.
Induce
vomiting either with copper sulphate 1:1000 solution or potassium permanganate
1:2000 solution and repeat 3 to 4 time per hour until 5 to 10
liters of solution have been used. In the absence of these use tap
water. Give white of eggs, beaten in milk as demulcent or mineral
oil.
Fluorides
( Bug
Killers and Cockroach Killers)
Nausea, vomiting,
abnormal cramps, weakness, fall in blood pressure, deep rapid
respiration, convulsions and cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the
skin and mucous membranes from lack of oxygen).
Induce
vomiting with skimmed milk. Give
white of eggs, beaten in milk as demulcent.
Petrol,
Paraffin, Kerosene (Houses, Garages)
Vomiting, vertigo, weaken irregular
pulse, convulsions, dim vision, cold and numb hands, drowsiness
and confusion.
Induce
Vomiting with salad oil or warm saline water. Observe
the patient carefully till medical help arrives.
Mercury
(Calomel, Teething Powders, Thermometer)
Severe pain in mouth, throat,
stomach, increase in salvia, blood and mucus in vomit, watery
bloody diarrhea, followed by muscle cramps and weakness.
Give
white of egg beaten with water or skimmed milk immediately.
Sleeping
Tablets
Cause
drowsiness, low blood pressure, tremor, blurring of vision, stiffness
of muscles, dryness of mouth and coma
Induce
Vomiting by giving Magnesium Sulphate (2tsp. in water). Give hot
coffee. Keep the patient awake.
Induce
vomiting by soda bicarbonate (one tsp. to a tumbler of Water).
Strong coffee or tea may be given.
Arsenic
(Ant or Rat Poisons, Weed Killers)
Severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal
pain, diarrhea, difficulty in swelling, urinary suppression and
muscle cramps.
Induce
vomiting with the finger or give 1 tablespoon full of table salt
of 1 teaspoon full of powdered mustard in water. Follow with 500ml
of skimmed milk.
Opium
(Hospitals, Some Chemical Mixtures, Opium addicts)
Mental exhilaration, followed by
drowsiness. Pupils of eyes pinpoint, slow, shallow breathing, slow
onset of unconsciousness, muscles relaxed, skin pale, cold sweat,
blue lips, irregular breathing
Induce
vomiting with 1:2000 potassium permanganate solution at short
intervals. Follow this with strong coffee or tea and keep the
patient awake and warm until the physician arrives.
Prevention Guidelines
Keep all medicines,
cosmetics, cleaning fluids, rat poisons and insecticides where
children cannot get at them. A locked cabinet is the only safe
place.
Never keep drugs,
chemicals or household cleaners in containers originally used for
food or drink.
Be sure that the labels
of medicinal bottle clearly state what the medicine is for, the
doses, and how often it is to be taken.
Never use a preparation
known to be actively poisonous when a less dangerous one will
serve.
All drugs and chemicals
should be clearly labeled.
Discard all
prescription drugs that are left over when the need for them is
past.
Never take a medicine
without reading the label.
Avoid taking medicine in front
of young children. In a household with young children a locked
medicine cabinet is insurance against tragedy.
If you must carry drugs
with you never leave them in purse or coat pocket where children
can get them.
Always ask your doctor
about the possible effect of overdosing of prescription drugs.
Homoeopathic Treatment
Phosphorus Poisoning: Nux
Vom 30C, 200C, 1M, Lachesis30c, Phosphorus 30C or higher.
Mercury Poisoning: Aurm
Met 30C, Carbo Veg 30C or higher, Kali Iod 30C, Lachesis 30C, Merc Sol
30C or higher, Nat Sulph 1M, Hepar Sulph 200C, 1M, Nitric Acid
1M, Sulphur 30C or higher.
Majority of Poisonous cases are
medico-legal cases as such it is advisable that in every case patient
should be immediately shifted to a Govt. Hospital
Bibliography
The New Home Medical Encyclopedia Volume 1-4
(ISBN: 0-8129-0260-2)
Labeled with ICRA