Poisoning: first aid¶

Poisoning can come from swallowing, breathing, or touching something harmful, including medicines, cleaning products, plants, and gas. This page helps you get expert help quickly and take the right first steps.

Do this now¶

1. Get the person away from the source, into fresh air if they breathed fumes. Do not put yourself at risk.
2. Call your local emergency number if the person is unconscious, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or is very drowsy (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom).
3. If the person is awake and has no severe symptoms, call poison control. In the United States, call US Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
4. Have the container, label, or plant ready. Note how much was taken, and when.
5. Follow the advice you are given. Do not make the person vomit.

Poison control¶

Many countries have a poison information center that gives free, expert advice by phone. In the United States, US Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222, and it connects you to a local center. Other countries have their own numbers, so check the emergency numbers page or ask your local health service. If you cannot find one, call your emergency number.

Be ready to say the person's age and weight if you know it, what they took or touched, how much, when, and what symptoms they have. They will tell you if you can stay home or need care.

Do not make the person vomit¶

... danger "Never induce vomiting" Do not make someone vomit, and do not give salt water, syrup, or other home remedies. Vomiting can cause choking and burn the throat a second time, and it does not help in most cases. Do not give food or drink unless poison control or a health professional tells you to.

Save any vomit in a container for the responders, if the person vomits on their own. Turn a person who is vomiting onto their side so they do not choke.

If the person is unconscious¶

If the person is not responding and is not breathing normally, call your emergency number and start CPR. If they are unconscious but breathing, place them on their side in the recovery position, and keep checking their breathing.

Do not give mouth to mouth if there is poison on the mouth or face, such as a chemical or pesticide. Use compression only CPR and wear a barrier if you have one.

Poison on the skin¶

1. Protect yourself with gloves if possible.
2. Remove contaminated clothing and jewelry, without pulling anything over the face.
3. Brush off any dry powder first.
4. Rinse the skin with plenty of running water for at least 20 minutes.
5. Call poison control or your emergency number, and tell them what the chemical was.

Poison in the eyes¶

Hold the eyelids open and flush the eye with lukewarm running water for at least 20 minutes. Tilt the head so the water runs away from the other eye. Remove contact lenses if they come out easily. Do not rub the eye. Call poison control or your emergency number, even if the eye feels better.

Breathed in fumes¶

Move the person to fresh air at once, but do not go into a place with fumes if it is not safe. Open doors and windows if you can do so from outside. Call your emergency number if there is coughing that will not stop, trouble breathing, dizziness, or confusion.

Carbon monoxide¶

Carbon monoxide is a gas with no color or smell. It comes from fuel burning in cars, generators, grills, stoves, and heaters. Signs include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. They can feel like the flu.

Get everyone outside into fresh air right away, and call your emergency number. Do not go back in. People who are asleep can be poisoned before they notice symptoms. See carbon monoxide for how to prevent it.

Medicines and household products¶

Many poisonings happen at home, often with children or with medicine taken by mistake.

• Keep medicines, cleaners, and chemicals locked up and out of sight
• Keep products in their original containers with labels
• Never describe medicine to children as candy
• Put the poison control number in your phone and on the fridge
• Use child resistant caps and close them after each use

If a child may have swallowed something, call right away. Do not wait for symptoms to start.

At the hospital¶

Take the container, label, or medicine with you, and a list of what the person takes. Responders will want to know what was taken, how much, and when. Do not drive yourself if you are unwell or the person is very sick.

... note "Take a course" A Red Cross or similar first aid course teaches you to respond to poisoning and other emergencies with hands on practice.

Related guides¶

• Carbon monoxide
• CPR
• Chemical spills
• Burns
• Emergency numbers