FIRST AID
Poisoning
Poisoning
A poison is any substance that causes injury, illness or death if it enters the body.
➢Poisoning can happen anywhere, but most poisonings take place in the home.
➢ Children younger than 5 years, especially toddlers,
are at the highest risk for poisoning.
➢ Older adults who have medical conditions that cause confusion (such as dementia)
or who have impaired vision are also at a higher risk of unintentional poisoning.
Classification of poisons:
( according to how they enter the body)
1) Swallowed poisons
2) Inhaled poisons
3) Absorbed poisons
4) Injected poisons
1. Swallowed Poisons
Poisons that can be swallowed include:
• Foods, such as certain mushrooms and shellfish.
• An overdose of drugs, such as sleeping pills, tranquilizers and alcohol.
• Medications, such as a high quantity of aspirin.
• Household items, such as cleaning products.
• Pesticides and certain plants.
➢ Many substances that are not poisonous in small amounts, are poisonous in
larger amounts.
➢ Combining certain substances can result in poisoning, although if taken by
themselves they might not cause harm.
2. Inhaled Poisons
A person can be poisoned by breathing in (inhaling) toxic fumes.
Examples of poisons that can be inhaled include:
Gases, such as:
• Carbon monoxide from an engine or car exhaust.
• Carbon dioxide from wells and sewers.
• Chlorine, found in many swimming pools.
Fumes from:
• Household products, such as glues and paints.
• Drugs, such as crack cocaine.
3. Absorbed Poisons
• Poisons that can be absorbed through the skin and mucous
Membranes come from many sources including plants,
such as poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak,
chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides.
• Most poisons absorbed by the skin cause irritation at the place of contact,
but don’t affect the rest of the body.
• The irritation, called contact dermatitis, includes redness, itching and
blisters.
• Some chemicals, however, do affect the rest of the body when absorbed by
the skin, and these can cause life-threatening emergencies.
4. Injected Poisons
• Injected poisons enter the body through a hollow needle or needle-
like
device (e.g. a snake’s fangs)
the bites or stings of insects, spiders, ticks, some marine life, snakes
and other animals or through drugs or medications injected.
If you have good reason to suspect that a POISONOUS substance was
taken:-
➢ call the National toxin Center number and follow the call taker’s
directions
Your local Poison Control Centre can provide you with specific first aid
instructions for a variety of types of poison,
but remember that you should always call EMS(123)/(112) if the person:
➢Has an altered level of responsiveness or
➢Having difficulty breathing.
Signs and symptoms of poisoning
they may be helpful in answering these questions
what poison was taken or by what means it was taken,.
Common signs and symptoms to most poisonings include:
(1) Change in the level of consciousness
(2) Difficulty breathing (usually shallow and rapid)
(3) Change in the heart rate
(4) Burned tissue at the route of entry
(5) Chest pain
Other signs and symptoms related to the method of poisoning include:
Swallowed poisons Absorbed poisons Injected poisons Inhaled
poisons
• Nausea, Reddening of the Irritate the point Coughing,
• abdominal cramps, skin, of entry chest pain
Blisters, Difficulty
• Diarrhea breathing
• Vomiting. Swelling .
• discolour the lips And burns
• Cause burns in or
around the mouth or
• Leave an odour on
the breath
NB: Some poisonous gases (ex:Carbon monoxide) are colourless and odourless
They are not to be easily detectable. Exercise extra caution if inhaled poisoning
is suspected
General Care for Poisoning:
(1) Limit further exposure by moving either the person or the source of the
poison.
(2) check of the scene and the person (scene survey & primary survey)
this might give clues to the poison that cause of the person’s illness.
Ex: you may note * an open or spilled container
* an unusual odour, burns around the person’s mouth,
* a strange odour on the person’s breath,
* other people in the area who are also ill.
(3) try to find out the following key points so that you and others can give the most
appropriate care: * The type of poison
* The quantity taken
* When it was taken
(4) Estimate the size/age of the casualty, the smaller the person the more dangerous
the dosage.
(5) Calling EMS (123) رقم اإلسعاف/(112) رقم الطوارئor a Poison Control Centre is the
most important thing you can do if a poisoning of any type is suspected.
(6) If the poison’s container is found nearby, give the information from the label to the
Poison Control Centre or EMS/123 dispatcher.
(7) Do not give the person anything to eat or drink unless an EMS dispatcher or
Poison Control Centre staff member tells you to do so.
(8) If you do not know what the poison was and the person vomits:
i. Save a sample to give to EMS personnel.
ii. Wipe any vomit away from their mouth and keep their head pointing down, to
allow any vomit to escape without them breathing it in or swallowing it.
(9) If the casualty is unresponsive but breathing, place in the recovery position.
(10) If breathing is not present begin CPR.
(11) Give ongoing casualty care until medical help takes over
First aid for swallowed poisons
1. If CPR is required, check the area around the mouth for poisonous residue and wipe clear.
• Always use a barrier device for added protection.
2. Do not dilute a poison that has been swallowed
(do not give fluids) unless told to do so by the Poison Information Centre.
3. If the casualty is conscious, wipe poisonous or corrosive residue from the casualty’s face and
rinse or wipe out the mouth.
4. Never induce vomiting except on the advice of the Poison Information Centre—many
poisons will cause more damage when vomited.
5. SPECIAL CASE If the casualty’s lips are burned by corrosive substances,
➢ give him frequent sips of cold milk or water while waiting for help to arrive.
First aid for inhaled poisons
1. Assess hazards with particular attention to the possible presence of a
poisonous gas or vapour.
Ensure your safety; it may be best to wait for professional rescuers.
2. Move the person to fresh air and away from the source of the poison.
4. If the poison could affect you while giving first aid, use a face mask or shield
with a one-way valve.
• First aid for absorbed poisons
1. Flush the affected area with large amounts of cool water
if the poisonous substance is a powder,
➢ brush off excessive amounts with a dry cloth before flushing.
2. Remove any clothing that has been in contact with the poison.
➢Don’t touch the clothing until it has been thoroughly washed.
➢If your hand is contaminated, wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap
and water.
• First aid for injected poisons
(1) Delay the circulation of the poison throughout the body by placing the
casualty at rest and keeping the affected limb below heart level.
(2) If you have been pricked with a needle with possible transmissible
disease contamination,
➢ then the site of the needle-stick injury should be vigorously scrubbed with
Iodine or similar disinfectant.
NB: Injected poisons should be contained near the injection site.
Thank you
