Once the poison has entered the body, it can get into the bloodstream and be carried quickly around the body to all the organs and tissues.
Types of Poisons
Poisons can get into the body in a number of ways. While the most often mentioned is through swallowing, for example in a tablet overdose, or a toddler drinking a cleaning product, poisons can also be absorbed through the skin, inhaled, splashed into the eyes where the blood vessels quickly transport it around the body, or injected into a vein or artery.
The effects of poisoning depend on what poison it is, and may develop quickly or over a number of days.
Swallowed Poisons
Many substances are harmful if swallowed, including many common household substances like bleach, dishwasher detergent and paint stripper. And drugs, whether they are prescribed or bought over the counter, can also be dangerous if they are taken in large amounts.
Poisonous Plants
Many young children eat plant leaves or brightly coloured berries, and while many of these plants may be of no danger to the children, some plants can be highly toxic.
Even small amounts of foxglove or wild arum can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps, and large amounts can be fatal. Laburnum seeds are also especially dangerous and can cause seizures (fits).
Some mushrooms found in gardens and woodland can also cause nausea, vomiting and occasionally hallucinations, but serious poisoning by these is rare. However, death cap mushrooms cause vomiting and severe watery diarrhoea between six and 12 hours after ingestion and can be fatal.
Symptoms
Depends on the poison, but there may be:
- vomiting, sometimes bloodstained
- pain or a burning sensation
- empty containers, bits of plants, or hypodermic needles nearby
- a history of ingestion or exposure
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- seizures
- impaired consciousness
Treatment
If the casualty is conscious, keep him calm and still. Ask him to sit or lie down, preferably on the floor. Do not let him have anything to drink, and do not try to make him sick.
If the casualty is unconsious make sure he is breathing, and if he is, place them into the recovery position. If he is not, call and ambulance and start CPR.
Treat the casualty for shock.
If the poison is a chemical make sure it has not splashed on the patient's clothes or body. If it is on the clothes, remove them carefully, making sure you don't get the chemical on yourself. If the chemical has splashed onto the casualty's skin you may have to treat for burns as well.
Get the casualty to hospital as soon as possible and monitor him while you are waiting for an ambulance, or while you are en route, for any changes to their condition. Make a note of anything the casualty says about how much of a substance he has taken, and when he took it.
If you know what poison the casualty has taken, tell the doctors. If there is a bottle or box that the poison was contained in, or any of the poison remaining, send that to the hospital with the casualty. If he has eaten a poisonous plant try to find out what it was and which part of it has been eaten. Keep any small pieces of the plant that you have found to show to the doctor.
Similarly, if the casualty has swallowed poison and is then sick, collect a sample of the vomit to send to hospital. The doctors can analyze the poison from the sample and decide on a treatment.
The information in this article is as recommended by St John Ambulance in the UK. First aid procedures may differ in other countries.
This article is intended as advice only and it not a substitute for going on a first aid course.
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