Poisoning First Aid Management: Critical Steps to Respond to an Emergency Effectively
Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26
DO NOT induce vomiting, unless you have been told to do so by the Poisons Information Centre.
DO NOT give the patient anything to eat or drink.
Wash substances off the face and around the mouth with water.
A quick response to suspected Poisoning can save a life and reduce long-term effects. This Poisoning Fact Sheet outlines essential first aid steps to recognise signs and symptoms and how to manage an emergency.
Signs & Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of poisoning can depend on the type of poison, and can include:
- bite or injection marks, with or without local swelling
- burns around and inside the mouth or on the tongue
- smell of fumes
- odours on the breath
- burning pain from mouth to stomach
- nausea, vomiting
- abdominal pain
- difficulty in breathing
- tight feeling in chest
- headache
- ringing in ears
- blurred vision
- blue lips, face, earlobes, fingernails
- drowsiness
- loss of consciousness
- seizures.
What to do:
- Follow DRSABCD.
- Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
- Call triple zero (000) for fire services if the air is contaminated with smoke or gas.
- Reassure the patient.
- Find out what sort of poison is involved, if possible, and record the information for medical personnel.
- Call the Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26, and follow their advice.
- If the patient is becoming drowsy, place them in the recovery position and continue to check their airway and breathing regularly.
- Send any vomit, containers and suicide notes with the patient to hospital.
In a medical emergency call Triple Zero (000). You could save a life with First Aid Training