Poisoning: recognise possible exposure and seek the right help promptly
Poisoning can follow swallowing, breathing in or contact with a harmful substance. The effects depend on the substance and the circumstances, and symptoms may be delayed. This guide explains basic concepts for study. A suspected poisoning needs prompt professional advice rather than waiting to identify it from a symptom list.
The substance and how contact occurred are important
Medicines, household products, workplace chemicals and gases can cause poisoning in particular circumstances. The route of exposure helps frame the assessment: swallowing a substance is different from breathing it in or getting it on skin. The product name alone may not describe the actual ingredients or strength. A clinician needs the best available account of what happened.
For an example of a hypothetical situation -- consider the difference between knowing the product that was involved and knowing how long since you made contact. Note what is known and what is unknown as far as the extent of exposure (and the quantity). Try not to guess as to exactly how much was swallowed, breathed in or absorbed through skin. When calling for help don't delay the call by trying to gather as many details as possible.
Looking well initially does not exclude a serious problem
Even though a person may look fine after potential exposure to a toxic agent there could still be a significant number of health complications. Although symptoms may vary depending on the toxin, they may include nausea or vomiting, unusual sleepiness, confusion, breathing difficulty or seizures. Many toxins produce no immediate signs of illness. Therefore, just because someone appears to be okay at one point does not mean that their exposure was safe. A determination must be made regarding the nature of the toxin and the manner in which it was contacted rather than relying solely on the appearance of someone at one given moment.
When developing a scenario for a classroom case -- develop a timeline of events surrounding the contact and note any subsequent changes. Consider what was stated compared to what is being observed. Any symptoms that appear afterwards are valuable pieces of information but they will not alone identify the specific toxin or provide direction for treatment. Develop an organized account using the example instead of determining that someone can wait until symptoms occur.
Specialist advice is safer than an improvised remedy
It is usually better to err on the side of caution when dealing with potential poisoning exposures. Contact either a poison center or seek immediate medical attention if a poisoning exposure may have occurred, regardless of whether symptoms are present. For collapse, seizure, severe shortness of breath or another life threatening sign, immediately contact emergency services. After a suspected ingestion of a potentially harmful substance do not attempt to induce vomiting nor feed the individual anything to eat or drink. Follow the directions provided by emergency or poison-service professionals.
To assist with future revisions -- explain why a common home remedy is unlikely to be applicable for each type of substance. The course of treatment will be dependent upon the source of the toxin and may need to be monitored prior to apparent symptoms. Do not rely on this document for identifying an antidote or selecting a safe quantity. If relevant packaging is available for products identified in scenarios related to poisonings, this will aid professionals in identifying the products without generating additional potential exposure risks.
Storage and clear identification reduce avoidable mistakes
Storage of medications and household products in their original containers along with adherence to manufacturer's guidelines for usage and storage will greatly decrease preventable errors due to mistaken identity. Household products should be stored in secure areas where young children are unable to access them. Carbon Monoxide poses a unique threat in that it is a colorless odorless gas. Proper alarm systems and proper use and maintenance of all equipment capable of producing carbon monoxide are necessary steps towards preventing poisoning from carbon monoxide.
Identify an issue related to storage in a hypothetical household setting and describe a reasonable solution to correct the problem. Do not automatically assume that "natural" labels indicate non-harmful substances or that small quantities pose little risk. While prevention is an essential component, it is equally as important to act quickly and correctly once a poisoning has occurred.
Check your understanding
A short quiz, with an explanation after each answer.
Does having no immediate symptom prove an exposure is harmless?
Return to the section you found hardest and explain its example without looking at the page. Check the explanation, then repeat the quiz later. Being able to describe the reasoning is more useful than remembering the position of a correct answer.