Dangerous Poisons And First Aid Measures
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First, what is a POISON? A poison is any substance, sold, liquid, or gas, which may be taken accidentally or intentionally, through the lungs, by mouth, injection, or absorption through the skin.
Through the lungs:
This occurs mainly by breathing fumes, motor exhausts, or industrial gases, e.g. carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene. Hydrogen sulphide, cyanogen gas, or cyanide fumes which are rapidly fatal.
By the mouth:
These act directly on the food passage and cause retching, vomiting, pain, and diarrhea. Poisonous berries and infected and decomposed foods are common causes. Corrosives such as strong acids and alkalis, burn the lip, mouth, gullet and stomach, causing intense pain. The nervous system can be affected after the absorption into the blood stream of alcohol, tablets and solutions taken to relieve pain (aspirin, opium derivatives) or induce sleep (barbiturate drugs). Belladonna can cause delirium; strychnine and prussic acid, fits.
Injected under the skin:
This is caused by bites of poisonous reptiles, some animals and certain insects. Or injection by hypodermic syringe of drugs such as heroin.
Absorption through the skin:
Certain pesticides used in farming such as parathion malathion can cause convulsions.
With poisons, there is the possibility of death occurring by: asphyxia caused by poisons taken through the lungs; convulsions caused by absorption through the skin; and coma, which may occur as a result of the poisons in any group.
TREATMENT:
The aim must be to sustain life by elimination or dilution of the poison and urgent transportation to the hospital.
- If the patient is conscious, ask him quickly what happened — he may lose consciousness at any time.
If there are no signs of burns on the lips or mouth caused by corrosive acids or alkalis, make him vomit repeatedly by tickling the back of his throat with your fingers, or by giving a tumbler of tepid water into which have been dissolved two tablespoonfuls of salt.
If lips and mouth show signs of burns, DO NOT induce vomiting. You must dilute the poison by giving quantities of milk or water.
Get the patient to a hospital quickly by any available transport.
- If the patient is unconscious, but breathing freely, place him in the recovery position, thus ensuring an open air.
If his breathing is failing or has ceased, commence artificial respiration immediately. Part of his breathing mechanism may be disturbed by the poison, therefore this must be continued until hospital treatment can be given. Send particulars of the suspected cause, if known, with the patient, together with any remaining poison, box, bottle or anything to help identify the poison, and even some some of the vomited matter.
RECOVERY POSITION. An unconscious patient must be placed in the recovery position immediately. If the patient is on his back, kneel beside him and place both arms close to his body. Turn him gently unto his side by grasping the clothing at his hip. Next you draw up the upper arm until it is at the right angles with the body, and bend the elbow. Draw up the upper leg until the thigh makes a right angle with the body, bend the knee. Draw out the underneath arm gently backwards to extend slightly behind the patients back. Bend the undermost knee slightly. This will provide the necessary stability to keep the patient comfortable. With his head turned to one side, the possibility of vomit causing drowning (asphyxia) is eliminated.
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