How to Assist Someone with Digestive Poisoning

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, around 2.4 million individuals are exposed to or ingest toxic substances annually, with more than half of them being children under six years old. These toxins can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. The most dangerous poisons include medications, cleaning products, liquid nicotine, windshield wiper fluid, antifreeze, pesticides, gasoline, kerosene, and others. The effects of these substances, along with many others, vary significantly, often making it difficult to determine what has happened, which leads to delays in diagnosis. In cases of suspected poisoning, the first and foremost action is to immediately contact emergency services or a poison control center.

Recognize the symptoms of poisoning. The symptoms of poisoning may vary depending on the type of toxin ingested, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, or small batteries. Additionally, common poisoning symptoms often resemble other health conditions, including seizures, insulin reactions, strokes, and intoxication. One of the best ways to determine whether poisoning has occurred is to look for clues such as empty bottles or containers, stains or odors on the victim or nearby, misplaced items, or open cabinets. However, there are physical signs you can watch for, including:

• Burns and/or redness around the mouth area
• Chemical-smelling breath (gasoline or paint thinner)
• Vomiting or gagging
• Difficulty breathing
• Excessive drowsiness
• Altered mental state or confusion

Check if the victim is breathing. Look for any rise and fall of the chest; listen for air moving in and out of the lungs; feel for airflow by placing your cheek near the victim's mouth.

• If the victim is not breathing or shows no other signs of life such as movement or coughing, perform CPR and call emergency services, or ask someone nearby to make the call.
• If the victim is vomiting, especially if unconscious, turn their head to the side to prevent choking.

Call emergency services. Dial 911 (or 115 for emergency services in Vietnam) or the emergency number in your area if the victim is unconscious and suspected of being poisoned, overdosed on drugs, stimulants, alcohol (or any combination of these). You should also immediately call 911 if the victim displays any severe symptoms of poisoning, such as:

• Dizziness or fainting
• Difficulty breathing or stopped breathing
• Agitation or restlessness
• Seizures

Contact Poison Help Center. If you suspect poisoning but the victim's condition seems stable and no symptoms are present, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (in the U.S.). Alternatively, you can contact your local poison control center for advice if you know their phone number. Poison control centers are excellent resources for information on toxins, and in many cases, they may recommend at-home monitoring and treatment (see section 2).

• The contact number for poison control centers varies by region, but you can easily find the correct number by searching online. The service is free, unlike emergency room visits or doctor appointments.
• Poison control centers are available 24/7. Their trained staff will guide you step-by-step on how to handle a poisoning situation. They may suggest home treatment or advise immediate emergency care. Follow their instructions exactly and refrain from doing anything additional, as they are skilled in managing poisoning cases.
• You can also visit the Poison Control website for detailed instructions. However, use the website only if: the victim is between 6 months and 79 years old, the victim shows no signs of illness, is cooperative, not pregnant, has ingested the toxin, and the poisoning was accidental and occurred only once.

Prepare essential information. Gather details about the victim's age, weight, symptoms, medications they are taking, and any information related to the ingestion of the poison to provide to the medical authorities. Also, make sure to inform the operator of your location.

• Remember to collect labels or packaging (bottles, cans, etc.) or any items the victim may have ingested. Try to estimate how much of the toxic substance was consumed.

Handling swallowed or ingested toxins. Instruct the victim to spit out any remaining substances in their mouth and ensure the toxin is no longer within reach. DO NOT induce vomiting or administer any syrup to cause vomiting. While this was once standard practice, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Association of Poison Control Centers have updated their guidelines to warn against these methods, advising instead to call emergency services and the poison control center and follow their specific instructions.

• If the victim ingested a button battery, immediately contact emergency services for treatment in the hospital’s emergency room as soon as possible. The acid in the battery can cause stomach burns within two hours, making timely medical attention crucial.

Eye care for toxin exposure. Gently flush the affected eye with plenty of cool or lukewarm water for 15 minutes or until emergency responders arrive. Aim to pour a steady stream of water into the inner corner of the eye. This will help dilute the toxin.

• Encourage the victim to blink and avoid forcing the eye open while rinsing with water.

Dealing with inhaled toxins. In cases of exposure to smoke or toxic fumes like carbon monoxide, the best immediate action is to move the victim outdoors to fresh air while waiting for emergency help.

• Try to identify the type of chemical the victim inhaled so you can report it to the poison control center or emergency services, enabling them to determine the appropriate treatment or next steps.

Handling skin exposure to toxins. If the victim is suspected to have come into contact with a toxic substance on their skin, remove any contaminated clothing by wearing medical gloves such as nitrile gloves, which are resistant to household chemicals, or other protective gloves to prevent contamination. Wash the affected skin area for 15-20 minutes with cool or lukewarm water under a shower or faucet.

• As with other forms of poisoning, it is important to note the source of the toxin to help determine the next steps in treatment. For instance, medical staff will need to know whether the chemical is an acid, alkali, or another substance in order to assess potential skin damage and how to mitigate or treat it.

• Never refer to medicine as "candy" when trying to convince children to take it. Children may desire "candy" when you're not around.
• Post the national poison control center's phone number, 1-800-222-1222 (in the U.S.), on the refrigerator or next to the phone for easy access in emergencies.

• Although syrup to induce vomiting and activated charcoal are available at pharmacies, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Association of Poison Control Centers currently do not recommend home treatment, as it could cause more harm than good.
• Prevent misuse of toxic substances. Prevention is the best method to avoid poisoning. Store all medications, batteries, varnishes, laundry powders, and household cleaners in locked cabinets, and always keep them in their original packaging. Read labels carefully for correct usage.