First aid for poisoning
Roman Štoudek
1
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Learning objectives
̶ Student will learn how to recognize and evaluate the severity of
the condition of a patient affected by poisoning.
̶ Student will learn the procedure for providing first aid to a patient
affected by poisoning.
̶ Student will learn when and how to contact the regional Poison
Center.
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General
̶ Injury or death due to swallowing, inhaling, touching or injecting
various drugs, chemicals, venoms or gases.
̶ The effects of toxic substances are manifested at the point of entry
and in distant organs according to the metabolism of the
substance.
̶ May cause severe damage to health to death.
̶ Children are also sensitive to small amounts of toxins.
̶ The most common cause of poisoning in paediatric patients is
accidental poisoning.
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When to suspect poisoning
̶ Poisoning signs can be different and often mimic other conditions,
such as seizure, stroke, hypoglycaemia,..
̶ Symptoms of poisoning may include:
̶ Vomiting
̶ Difficulty breathing
̶ Drowsiness
̶ Confusion or other altered mental state
̶ Burns or redness around the mouth
̶ Breath that smells like chemicals (gasoline, paint thinner)
̶ Empty pill bottles or packages, stains and odours on the person or
nearby objects can be seen in the vicinity.
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Management
Recognize
poisoning
• unconsciousness, altered mental state, convulsions, etc.
• In the vicinity of some empty blisters, letter, empty bottles
Assessment
of severity
• Symptoms – consciousness, breathing, body colour, temperature,..
• Age of person, approximate weight, chronic diseases
• The type of substance that caused the poisoning – finding in the vicinity, odour, ..
Additional
care
• Check consciousness and breathing – if breathing normally possible turn to the recovery position
• Call Emergency Service (155,112, 911, ..)
• Patient unconscious and not breathing – start CPR
• Possibility to contact regional poison control centre
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When to call for help
Call local emergency number
immediately
• Drowsy or unconscious
• Having difficulty breathing or has stopped
breathing
• Uncontrollably agitated
• Having seizures
• Known to have taken medications
intentionally or accidentally overdosed
Call regional poison control centre
• The person is stable and has no symptoms
• The person is going to be transported to the local
emergency department
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Regional poison control centre
̶ Be ready to describe the person‘s
symptoms, age, weight, other medications
and any information you have about
the poison.
̶ Try to determine the amount ingested and how long since the
person was exposed to it.
̶ If possible, have on hand the medication package or other suspect
container so you can refer to its label.
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What to do while waiting for help
Swallowed poison
• Remove anything remaining in the mouth.
• A household cleaner or other chemical, follow instructions on the label.
Poison on the skin
• Remove any contaminated clothing using gloves.
• Rinse the skin for 15 to 20 minutes in a shower or with a hose.
Poison in the eye
• Gently flush the eye with cool or lukewarm water for 20 minutes or until help arrives.
Inhaled poison
• Get the person into fresh air.
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What to do while waiting for help
Vomiting
• If the person vomits, turn his or her head to the side to prevent choking.
CPR
• If the person shows no signs of life (unconscious, breathing).
• Be careful when breathing from mouth to mouth – some toxins are absorbed through the skin.
Call Poison Help
• If you need for additional instructions.
Gather pill bottles, packages or containers with labels
• Gather pill bottles, packages or containers with labels, and any other information about the
poison to send along with the ambulance team.
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Caution
Syrup of ipecac
• Don't give syrup of
ipecac
• Don‘t do anything to
induce vomiting
Button batteries
• Especially dangerous
to small children
• Can cause severe
burns in as little as 2
hours
• If you suspect that a
child has swallowed
one of these
immediately take him
to the hospital
Medicated patches
• Inspect skin if
suspected
• Checking the oral
cavity where it can be
stuck
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Source
̶ „Poisoning: First Aid". Mayo Clinic,
https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-poisoning/basics/art-
20056657
̶ Co dělat při akutní otravě. https://www.tis-cz.cz/index.php
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Learning outcomes
̶ Student is able to describe the symptoms of an intoxicated patient.
̶ Student is able to describe basic principles in first aid in an
intoxicated patient.
̶ Student is able to describe what a toxicology information centre is,
how to contact and what information he gets.
Simulation Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University
2020