Chapters 16

Chapter 16: Poisoning

Introduction  A poison is any substance that can cause injury, illness or death when introduced into the body  Poisoning is considered a sudden illness  Between 1 and 2 million poisonings occur each year in the United States  More than 90 percent of all poisonings take place in the home

2

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Poisoning  How Poisons Enter the Body:  -Inhalation  -Ingestion  -Absorption  -Injection

3

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Checking the Scene  Often, the scene itself is the best clue that a poisoning may have occurred. Factors to notice include:  -Unusual odors  -Flames or smoke  -An open medicine cabinet  -Open or spilled containers  -Overturned or damaged plants  -Drug paraphernalia or empty containers

4

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Signals of Poisoning  The signals of poisoning include:  Nausea or vomiting

 Dizziness

 Diarrhea

 Weakness

 Chest or abdominal pain

 Irregular pupil size

 Trouble breathing  Sweating  Changes in consciousness  Seizures  Headache

5

 Burning or tearing eyes  Abnormal skin color  Burn injuries around the lips or tongue

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Care for Poisoning  The severity of a poisoning depends on:  -The type and amount of poison  -How and where the poison entered the body  -The time elapsed since the poisoning  -The victim’s size, weight, medical condition and age

6

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Care for Poisoning (cont.)  General guidelines of care for any poisoning emergency:  -Check the scene  -Check for life-threatening conditions. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number if the victim is unconscious or is having trouble breathing  -If the victim is conscious, ask questions:  What type of poison did the victim ingest, inhale, inject or come into contact with?  How much poison did the victim ingest, inhale, inject or come into contact with?  When did the poisoning take place (approximate time)? 7

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Once Determined Poison  -Remove from source  -Check LOC and ABC  -Care for life-threatening  -If conscious ask more information  -Bring any containers with you when you call  -Follow Poison Control Center or EMS directions

8

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Care for Poisoning (cont.)  Call the National Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222 or 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.  Give care as directed by poison control center personnel or the EMS call taker.

9

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Inhaled Poisons  Poisoning by inhalation occurs when a person breathes in toxic fumes  The danger associated with inhaled poisons makes checking the safety of the scene important  Notice clues at the scene:  -Unusual odors  -Strong smell of fuel  -Hissing sound  Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number from a different location

10

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Inhaled Poisons (cont.)  A commonly inhaled poison is carbon monoxide. It is a colorless, odorless gas  Carbon monoxide exposure can cause death  Pale or bluish skin color indicates lack of oxygen, which may indicate exposure

11

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Care for Inhaled Poisons  All victims of inhaled poison need oxygen ASAP  Help a conscious victim by getting him or her to fresh air  Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number  If you find an unconscious victim:  -Remove him or her from the scene if it is safe to do so  -Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number  -Give care for any other life-threatening conditions  Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number if you suspect that fumes are present

12

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Ingested Poisons  The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 76 million people suffer food-borne illnesses each year in the United States  Two of the most common categories of food poisoning are bacterial food poisoning and chemical food poisoning.  Salmonella is the most common type of food poisoning  Botulism is the most deadly type of food poisoning  DO NOT give victim anything to eat or drink unless medical professionals tell you to do so

13

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Ingested Poisons (cont.)  Signals of food poisoning include:  -Nausea  -Vomiting  -Abdominal pain  -Diarrhea  -Fever  -Dehydration

14

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Care for Ingested Poisons  In some cases of ingested poisoning, the Poison Control Center may instruct you to induce vomiting  Only induce vomiting if instructed to do so by a medical professional  Vomiting should not be induced if the victim:  -Is unconscious  -Is having a seizure  -Is pregnant (in the last trimester)  -Has ingested a corrosive substance (such as drain cleaner or oven cleaner) or a petroleum product (such as kerosene or gasoline)  -Is known to have heart disease 15

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Absorbed Poisons  An absorbed poison enters the body after it comes in contact with the skin  Absorbed poisons come from plants such as poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, as well as from fertilizers and pesticides used in lawn and plant care

16

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Care for Absorbed Poisons  Care for a victim who came into contact w/a poisonous plant:  -Immediately rinse the affected area  -If a rash or weeping lesion (an oozing sore) develops, seek advice from a pharmacist or physician  -If a victim’s condition worsens, seek a physician  Care for a victim who came into contact w/wet or dry chemicals:  -Flush the area continuously with water  -Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number  -If running water is not available, carefully brush off any dry chemicals with a gloved hand

17

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

18

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Injected Poisons  Injected poisons enter the body through the bites or stings of certain insects, spiders, ticks, marine life, animals and snakes or as drugs or misused medications injected with a hypodermic needle.  Insect and animal bites and stings are the most common sources of injected poisons  Care for injected poisons will be discussed later in Ch17 and 18

19

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Anaphylaxis  Severe allergic reactions to poisons are rare. But when one occurs, it is a life-threatening medical emergency. This reaction is called anaphylaxis.  Anaphylaxis is a form of shock  Onset of anaphylaxis can be rapid and the signals include:  -Swelling and redness  -Hives  -Rash  -Itching  -Burning skin and eyes  -Weakness 20

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Anaphylaxis (cont.)  -Nausea  -Vomiting  -Restlessness  -Dizziness  -Dilated pupils  -Slurred speech  -Chest discomfort or pain  -Weak or rapid pulse  -Rapid or trouble breathing (can result in obstructed airway)  -Coughing or wheezing

21

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Care for Anaphylaxis  Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number  Place victim in a position of comfort for breathing  Comfort and reassure the victim.  People who know they are extremely allergic to certain substances may carry an anaphylaxis kit  The kit contains a dose of epinephrine that can be injected into the body to counteract the anaphylactic reaction  In some cases, you may need to assist the victim in using his or her kit

22

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Epi Pen  Auto-Injector:  Carry dose of epinephrine (aka adrenaline) to counteract anaphylactic reaction.  Both a kit and auto-injector are by prescription ONLY

PRACTICE USE

23

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Preventing Poisoning

 -Keep household products and meds away from children  -Keep products in original containers  -Dispose of outdated medications and household products  -Use the poison symbol on dangerous substances  -Use chemicals only in well-ventilated areas  -Wear proper clothing  -Immediately wash those areas of the body that may have come in contact with a poison

24

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.

Closing  Poisoning can occur in any one of four ways: inhalation, ingestion, absorption and injection  The severity of a poisoning depends on factors such as:  -The type and amount of poison  -How and where the poison entered the body  -The time elapsed since the poisoning  -The victim’s size, weight, medical condition and age  For suspected poisoning call the national number of the Poison Control Center or 9-1-1 or the local emergency number  Follow the directions of poison control center personnel or the EMS call taker  Questions? 25

AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID–RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES FOURTH EDITION Copyright © 2005 by The American National Red Cross All rights reserved.