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Occasionally, individuals may accidentally ingest a small amount of gasoline while attempting to siphon it. This is an unpleasant and potentially dangerous incident, but with proper handling, the person may not require hospitalization. However, swallowing a larger quantity of gasoline can be extremely hazardous. Approximately 30 ml of gasoline can cause poisoning in adults, and less than 15 ml can be fatal for children. It is crucial to exercise extreme caution when assisting someone who has swallowed gasoline, and never induce vomiting. If you are unsure or concerned, immediately contact the Poison Control Center or emergency services.
Steps
Assisting Someone Who Has Ingested a Small Amount of Gasoline
Stay with the victim and help them remain calm. Reassure them that many people accidentally swallow small amounts of gasoline and usually experience no serious issues. Encourage the victim to take deep breaths, stay calm, and relax.
Do not encourage the victim to try to vomit the gasoline. A small amount of gasoline in the stomach is unlikely to cause significant harm, but even a few drops can lead to severe respiratory issues if inhaled into the lungs. Vomiting increases the risk of the victim inhaling gasoline and must be avoided.
- If the victim vomits unexpectedly, help them lean forward to prevent inhalation. Assist them in rinsing their mouth with water and immediately contact the Poison Control Center and emergency services.
Encourage the victim to drink water or fruit juice after rinsing their mouth with water. Advise them to sip slowly to avoid coughing or choking. If the victim is unconscious or unable to drink on their own, do not attempt to pour water into their mouth, and call emergency services immediately.
- Do not give the victim milk unless instructed by the Poison Control Center, as milk can accelerate the absorption of gasoline.
- Avoid carbonated beverages, as they may cause excessive burping.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours.
Contact the poison control center and describe the situation. In the U.S., the number is 1-800-222-1222. If the victim experiences severe symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, or any other critical signs, call emergency services immediately. In Vietnam, the emergency number is 115.
Help the victim wash off any gasoline from their skin. The victim should remove all clothing contaminated with gasoline. Rinse the affected skin area with plain water for 2-3 minutes, then wash with mild soap. Rinse thoroughly and dry the area.
Ensure the victim does not smoke for at least 72 hours, and avoid smoking near the victim. Gasoline and its fumes are highly flammable, and smoking could ignite a fire. Cigarette smoke can also worsen lung damage caused by gasoline exposure.
Reassure the victim that burping gasoline fumes is normal. This phenomenon can persist for at least 24 hours to several days. Drinking additional fluids may help the victim feel more comfortable and expedite the elimination of gasoline from the body.
- If the victim begins to feel uncomfortable at any point, take them to a doctor for a more thorough examination.
Wash clothes contaminated with gasoline. Gasoline-soaked clothing poses a high fire risk and should be air-dried for at least 24 hours to allow the fumes to dissipate before washing. Wash gasoline-stained clothes separately using hot water. Adding a small amount of ammonia or baking soda to the wash water can help remove gasoline. Air-dry the clothes to check if the gasoline smell is gone and rewash if necessary.
- Do not put clothes that still smell of gasoline into the dryer; they could ignite!
Assisting Someone Who Has Ingested a Large Amount of Gasoline
Remove the victim from the gasoline. The top priority is ensuring the victim does not ingest more gasoline. If the victim is unconscious, proceed immediately to step 3.
Remember that children ingesting gasoline, whether in large or small amounts, is dangerous. If you suspect your child has swallowed gasoline but are unsure of the quantity, treat it as an emergency and call for medical assistance immediately.
Call emergency services. Provide as much detail as possible about the situation. If the victim is a child, clearly explain that you need urgent assistance.
Closely monitor the victim's condition. If the victim is conscious, reassure them that help is on the way and discourage them from vomiting. Offer water if they can drink, and help them remove gasoline-soaked clothing while washing off any gasoline from their skin.
- If the person vomits, assist them by tilting their head forward or to the side to prevent choking or inhalation.
If the victim stops breathing, coughing, moving, or responding, perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) immediately. Lay the victim on their back and begin chest compressions. Press down about 5 cm (or one-third to half the depth of the chest) in the center of the chest. Perform 30 rapid compressions at a rate of about 100 per minute. Tilt the victim's head back, lift their chin, pinch their nose, and give two rescue breaths, each lasting about one second, until you see their chest rise. Continue with chest compressions.
- Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and two breaths until the victim revives or emergency services arrive.
- If you're on the phone with emergency services, the operator will guide you through the CPR process.
- The Red Cross now recommends that CPR for children be performed the same way as for adults, except for infants and very young children, where the chest compression depth should be 3.8 cm instead of 5 cm.
Warning
- Do not induce vomiting in someone who has swallowed gasoline. Vomiting can cause further damage.
- Always store gasoline in secure, clearly labeled containers, out of children's reach.
- Never store gasoline in beverage containers, such as old water bottles.
- Never intentionally drink gasoline for any reason.
- Do not siphon gasoline with your mouth. Use a pump or air pressure to start the siphon.
Advice
- The steps above can also be applied to other liquids such as gasoline, oil, benzene, or benz.
