Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Your response to a case of an individual who has ingested poison
Dr. Zulfikar Bux
By Dr. Zulfikar Bux
One of the preventable causes of mortality in our country is suicide. We have one of the highest suicide rates worldwide and most often it’s from the ingestion of a poisonous substance.
Let’s suppose you were to witness a family, a friend or even a stranger who had just ingested some poison. Would you know what to do? The most obvious answer would be to get them to the nearest Hospital. There are other small interventions while on scene and en route to the Hospital that may help to save the victim’s life. We will dwell on some basic concepts that should be adhered to when assisting someone who has ingested a poisonous substance.
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?
The victim may tell you they drank poison or you may have a suspicion based on their history and the following symptoms:
· Burns or redness around the mouth and lips
· Breath that smells like chemicals/poison
· Vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Difficulty breathing
· Drowsiness
· Confusion or behaving abnormal
· Drooling
· Unconsciousness
CALL FOR HELP
Getting others to assist you will be time saving. This is of utmost importance given that the longer it takes to begin medical care, the higher the risk of the victim having complications from the poison.
WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING FOR HELP
Begin the following actions until help arrives:
· Swallowed poison. Remove anything remaining in the person’s mouth. If the suspected poison is a household cleaner or other chemical, read the container’s label and follow instructions for accidental poisoning.
· 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. Ensure this does not excessively delay transport to the hospital.
· 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 as soon as possible.
· If the person vomits, turn his or her head to the side to prevent choking.
· Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of life, such as moving, breathing or coughing.
· Get the evidence. Have somebody gather pill bottles, packages or containers with labels, and any other information about the poison to send to the hospital. This will help the doctors determine the type of poison and figure out possible antidotes/ treatment.
WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T DO
Do not induce vomiting. This is a popular belief since it may help the victim to vomit some poison out. Every time the victim vomits, they are at risk of getting poisonous substances into their airway and lungs. This can cause more life-threatening complications than the poison itself and is best avoided.
Do not give anything to eat or drink. By giving the victim something to swallow, you are increasing their risk of vomiting which can cause more complications as discussed.
I have had the experience of seeing many victims of suicidal poison ingestions. Almost all of them regret the ordeal. It was a simple moment of misjudgment during a stressful time. Developing coping mechanisms and working as group will help to combat this plague in our country. We all make errors in judgments that we regret a few minutes later, losing our life is the paying the ultimate price. Having someone who assisted and knew what to do during a suicidal ingestion is priceless.
(Dr. Zulfikar Bux is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Vanderbilt University and Medical Center and holds the position of Head of the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.)
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