First Aid on Poisoning

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Injected Poisons

Poisoning can be defined as when the body is exposed to harmful substances either through swallowing, breathing in or injecting the body. These substances impair the normal functioning of the body and can lead to illness or worse still death of a person or animal. Most of these poisons occur by accident but others could be deliberate.

Poisoning signs may take some time before they show up. However, if you suspect that a person has taken poison don’t wait for signs as it may be too late. Take action immediately to save the person’s life. Poisoning can be caused by such things like chemicals, certain foods, poisonous gases for example carbon monoxide, insecticides and many others.

Signs of poisoning may vary from one person to another but generally they include: coughing, vomiting, stomach pains, confusion, lips turning to bluish, diarrhea, pains on the chest, severe headache, skin burns or rushes, bad breath odor, unconsciousness and empty poison bottles within vicinity.

First Aid for Poisoning by Swallowing:

Poisons that are swallowed or ingested cause harm to the digestive system and the effects can be disastrous if the poison enters the blood stream thereby circulating all over the body. Before doing anything to the casualty check his or her airway, pulse and breathing. If need be start CPR and rescue breathing. Use the above mentioned signs to detect that in deed the person has taken poison. Helpful signs could be chemical or bad odor smelling from the mouth, vomiting and burns around the mouth.

What to do

Don’t cause throwing up by the patient unless instructed to do so by a health professional. In a situation where the person is vomiting, clear his airway and remember to keep the stuff vomited especially if it is from a plant because it may help the physicians identify the kind of medication to administer.

Administer first aid convulsion in case the patient starts having them. Always make sure the patient is rolled to the left side as he or she awaits medication.

In case the casualty is conscious, try the much you can to obtain information about the poison taken as you give him reassurance. This information is important since it will help the doctors in deciding on the kind of medication to administer. On the other hand, if the patient is unconscious, open the airway and give rescue breaths and chest compressions and remember to place the victim in a recovery position. In case the patient has chemicals on the mouth use rescue masks when giving rescue breath.

Place them into the recovery position if the casualty is unconscious but breathing normally. Finally, prepare to vacate the patient to the nearest hospital for medication.

 

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