Notes when giving first aid to poisoned people

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Huynh Kim Long - Emergency Resuscitation Doctor - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital. Dr. Huynh Kim Long has extensive experience in the treatment of Resuscitation - Emergency and Acute Stroke in adults.

Drug poisoning or food poisoning will cause both physical and mental fatigue for the patient, if severe, can even lead to death. Therefore, equipping knowledge about first aid steps when poisoning and handling poisoning is very necessary.

Poisoning can result from swallowing, inhaling, touching or injecting toxic drugs, chemicals, venoms and gases. Drug poisoning, food poisoning or any other form of poisoning have the potential to damage organs and even cause the victim to die.
Some substances such as drugs and carbon monoxide are toxic only when exposed to high concentrations and doses. Other chemicals, such as detergents, are only dangerous to humans if put in the mouth rather than through the skin. Children, in particular, are extremely sensitive to the effects of small amounts of certain drugs and chemicals.
Parents should be aware that young children can be poisoned by things that are not normally considered dangerous, including:
Make-up; Personal care products such as shampoos, body lotions and perfumes; Detergent solutions, including the packaging of detergent packs; Plants and plants; Items like clocks or button batteries.

Common signs of poisoning are:
Burning or redness around the mouth and lips; Breath that smells like chemicals, such as gasoline or light paint; Vomiting, shortness of breath and drowsiness; Confusion or change in mental status. These symptoms are often confused with other conditions, such as seizures, alcohol intoxication, stroke, or insulin reactions. Therefore, if a person is suspected of being poisoned, it is necessary to look for more relevant clues to determine. For example, drug poisoning will have empty medicine bottles or packages, scattered pills, or burns, stains, and odors on the victim or the surrounding area. When a child shows these signs, the possibility that he or she may have ingested a pain reliever patch or accidentally swallowed a button battery should be considered.

Call 911 for the hospital immediately if the victim shows signs of:
Drowsiness or unconsciousness; Shortness of breath or stop breathing; Uncontrollable restlessness or agitation; Having a convulsion; Find out that the victim has intentionally or unintentionally overdosed on drugs or any other chemical. In addition, the nearest poison control center should be contacted in the event that the patient is stable and asymptomatic, or preparing to transfer the patient to the emergency room at a local health facility.
Be aware of the victim's symptoms, age, weight, other medications they are taking and any information available about the poison, so that they are ready to be presented to the doctor.
Try to determine the dose and length of time the victim was exposed to the poison. If possible, bring the packaging of the suspected drug or chemical to provide additional information to the poison control center medical staff.

While waiting for medical help, for each poisoning case, the following first aid steps can be taken:
In case of poisoning: Remove all remaining impurities in the mouth of the patient. victim. If the poison is suspected to be household cleaners or some other chemical, read the information on the label of the package and follow the instructions for handling accidental poisoning if any; In case of poison on the skin : Remove contaminated clothing or pants with gloves. Rinse skin for 15-20 minutes under running water; In case of poison in eyes : Gently flush eyes with cool or warm water for at least 15 minutes or until help is obtained from medical personnel; In case of inhalation of poison: Move victim to fresh air as soon as possible. Tilt the victim's head to one side if vomiting occurs to avoid choking; Start CPR if the poisoned person shows no signs of life, such as movement, breathing, or coughing. Call your local hospital or poison control center for further instructions; Bring the bottle, pack of medicine, or packaging with a label and all information related to the poison to send to the ambulance team with the victim. In the process of poisoning management, it is necessary to take into account the symptoms and age of the patient, as well as the type of substance causing the poisoning and the degree of poisoning to take the correct first aid steps in case of poisoning.

To prevent drug or food poisoning, especially in young children, parents need to be careful with products and items recommended to keep them out of the reach of children. Some typical examples include:
Ipecac Emetic Syrup: Ipecac syrup should not be used arbitrarily or intentionally poked out the throat to induce vomiting. Experts do not recommend the use of ipecac in both children and adults who have taken drugs or used potentially toxic substances. To date there is no evidence that this drug is effective and often causes more harm. Therefore, parents should immediately discard the old bottles of Ipecac syrup that are still in the house.
Button batteries: These are small, round button-shaped batteries used in watches and other electronic devices, which are especially dangerous for young children. A battery stuck in the esophagus can cause severe burns in as little as 2 hours.
If it is suspected that a child has swallowed this type of battery, take the child immediately for an emergency X-ray to determine the location of the foreign body. Professional removal measures will be taken if the battery is in the esophagus. In cases where the battery has entered the stomach, it is usually safer to pass the foreign body through the intestines.
Patches: If you find that your child is holding a pain reliever patch, immediately take it back and carefully examine the baby's skin, remove the patch if they stick to the baby's body. Also check the roof of the mouth to avoid getting stuck because the child has sucked on the patch.
If in doubt about the risk of poisoning, call 911 or contact your local poison control center for help. Paramedics can help provide information on poisons, provide first aid steps for poisoning, or provide advice needed to continue monitoring the victim at home in each specific situation. .

Reference source: mayoclinic.org