Poisoning

Substances which when taken into the body cause damage to health are called poisons.

Substances which when taken into the body cause damage to health or death are called poisons. Poisons can get into the body by one of the following routes:

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By swallowing

By Inhalation

By Injection

By Contact with the skin

Management

Removing the patient to the hospital or a doctor is the highest priority and needs to be done as quickly as possible.

Some Common Poisons and the First Aid for them

Poison	Source	First Aid
Arsenic	Rat Poisons, Weed Killers	Induce vomiting and give soothing drinks.
Aspirin	Aspirin Tablets	Induce vomiting. drink of soda bicarbonate (one tsp. to a tumbler of Water) to be given. Strong coffee or tea may be given.
Carbon-Monoxide	Charcoal Stove, Gas Stove, Exhaust gases of cars	Apply artificial respiration. Give Oxygen.
Sleeping Tablets	Chemists	Induce Vomiting. Give Magnesium Sulphate. (2tsp. in water). Give hot coffee. Keep the patient awake.
Mercury	Calomel, Teething Powders, Mercury	Give white of egg in water. Later give milk. Then induce vomiting.
Lead	Paints, Hair Dyes, Pencils	Induce vomiting. Then give Magnesium Sulphate in water.
Opium and Morphia	Hospitals, Some Chemical Mixtures, Opium addicts.	Put a few crystals of Potassium Permanganate in a tumbler of water and give as a drink. Give hot coffee. Keep the patient awake.
Petrol, Paraffin, Kerosene	Houses, Garages, Oil Industry	Induce Vomiting. Give a large quantity of water or tender coconut. Liquid Paraffin if available is preferable to water in cases of Kerosene Oil poisoning.
Phosphorous	Rat Poisons and Match Heads	Induce vomiting. Give a large quantity of water or tender coconut. Never give oils as they will dissolve the phosphorous and increase the effect of the poison.
Prussic Acid	Photography or Electroplating Industries, Oil of Bitter Almonds, Tender Bamboo shoots	Emergency. Act at once. Induce vomiting. Begin artificial Begin artificial respiration.
Strychnine	Some vermin killers	Induce vomiting if there are no spasms. If breathing is irregular or has stopped, give artificial respiration.
Follidol	Bug Killers and Cockroach Killers	Induce vomiting. Give water or or tender coconut. Start artificial respiration if required.

In all the cases please remember that it is essential to get the patient to a doctor or hospital as soon as possible.

(Source: Webhealthcentre.com)