2. Poisons (1 of 2)
A poison is also known as a toxin and is
defined as anything that can cause harm
to someone if it is used in the wrong way,
used by the wrong person, or used in the
wrong amount.
4. Poisons Found in the Home
• Antifreeze and windshield
washer
• Some medicines
• Corrosive cleaners
• Fuels
• Pesticides
5. Ingested (Swallowed) Poisons
• Occurs when victim swallows a toxic
substance
• Account for 80% of all poisonings
• Analgesics account for largest category.
• Do not confuse poisoning frequency with
poisoning severity.
6. Recognizing Ingested Poisons
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Burns, odor, or stains around and in
the mouth
• Drowsiness or unconsciousness
• Seizure
• Poison container nearby
7. Care for Ingested Poisons (1 of 3)
• Check the condition of the victim.
• Call 9-1-1 immediately if the person:
• Is unresponsive
• Is having trouble breathing
• Has severe pain in the chest
• Shows other life-threatening signs
8. Care for Ingested Poisons (2 of 3)
• Call Poison Help
1-800-222-1222.
• Tell poison expert:
• Name of product
• Amount involved
• How long ago
poison contacted
victim
• Signs you notice
Courtesy of the American Association of Poison Control Centers
9. Care for Ingested Poisons (3 of 3)
• Place the victim
on his or her left
side.
• Save poison
container, plants,
and victim’s
vomitus.
11. Recognizing Intoxication
• Odor of alcohol on breath or clothing
• Unsteadiness, staggering walking
• Slurred speech and inability to carry on
conversations
• Nausea and vomiting
• Flushed face
• Seizures
12. Care for Alcohol Intoxication (1 of 2)
• Look for any injuries.
• Monitor breathing and treat accordingly.
• Place the person on the left side.
• Call poison center for advice and
emergency medical services (EMS) for
help.
13. Care for Alcohol Intoxication (2 of 2)
• If the victim is violent, leave the scene.
• Provide emotional support.
• Assume that an injured or unresponsive
victim has a spinal injury.
• Move person to a warm place.
14. Drug Emergencies
Drug classifications:
• Uppers (stimulants)
• Downers (depressants)
• Hallucinogens
• Alter and enhance sensory and emotional
information
• Volatile chemicals
• Cause serious damage to organs
16. Recognizing Sympathomimetic Use
• Disorganized behavior
• Hyperactivity
• Restlessness
• Anxiety or great fear
• Paranoia
• Delusions
17. Care for Sympathomimetic Users
• Check breathing.
• Call poison center or 9-1-1.
• Check for injuries.
• Place in recovery position.
• Provide reassurance and emotional
support.
• If violent, seek safety.
• Seek medical care.
20. Care for Hallucinogen Use
• Check breathing.
• Call poison center or 9-1-1.
• Check for injuries.
• Keep person on left side.
• Provide reassurance and emotional
support.
• If violent, seek safety.
• Seek medical care.
22. Recognizing Marijuana Overdose
• Euphoria, relaxation, drowsiness
• Short-term memory loss
• Impaired capacity for complex
thinking and work
• Depression, confusion
• Altered perception of time
• Anxiety, panic
• Hallucinations
23. Care for Marijuana Overdose
• Check breathing.
• Call poison center or 9-1-1.
• Check for injuries.
• Place on the left side.
• Provide reassurance and emotional
support.
• If violent, seek safety.
• Seek medical care.
24. Depressants
• Easy to obtain
• People sometimes solicit
prescriptions from several
physicians.
• Includes:
• Opiates
• Sedative-hypnotics
27. Care for Depressant Overdose
• Check breathing.
• Call poison center or 9-1-1.
• Check for injuries.
• Place on the left side.
• Provide reassurance and emotional
support.
• If violent, seek safety.
• Seek medical care.
28. Abused Inhalants
• Inhaling glue or other
solvents produces
effects similar to
those from ingesting
alcohol.
• Persons who sniff
these substances can
die of suffocation.
29. Recognizing Abused Inhalant
• Mild drowsiness to
unresponsiveness
• Slurred speech and clumsiness
• Seizures
• Slow breathing rate
• Smell of solvents
30. Care for Abused Inhalant
• Check breathing.
• Call poison center or 9-1-1.
• Check for injuries.
• Place on the left side.
• Provide reassurance and emotional
support.
• If violent, seek safety.
• Seek medical care.
31. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Carbon monoxide is:
• Odorless
• Colorless
• Nonirritating
• Produced by the incomplete combustion of
carbon-based fuels
33. Recognizing Carbon Monoxide
Poisoning
• Headache
• Ringing in ears
• Chest pain
• Muscle weakness
• Nausea and
vomiting
• Dizziness and
visual changes
• Unresponsiveness
• Respiratory and
cardiac arrest
• Cherry-red skin
and lips
34. Earmarks of Possible Carbon
Monoxide Poisoning
• Symptoms come and go.
• Symptoms worsen and improve in
certain places and at certain times
of the day.
• Nearby people have similar
symptoms.
• Pets seem ill.
35. Care for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
• Remove victim from environment immediately.
• Call 9-1-1.
• To reverse the effects:
• 4 to 5 hours with ordinary air
• 30 to 40 minutes with 100% oxygen
• Monitor breathing.
• Place unresponsive breathing victim in recovery
position.
• Seek medical care.
36. Plant-Induced Dermatitis
• About 85% of the population is sensitive
to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison
sumac.
• The resin of these plants is a colorless
or slightly yellow, light oil.
• Spreads by direct contact
• Can stay active for months or years
40. Care for Plant-Induced Dermatitis (1 of 3)
• Clean skin with soap and cold
water as soon as possible.
• Apply rubbing alcohol liberally.
• Remove with water.
41. Care for Plant-Induced Dermatitis (2 of 3)
• For a mild reaction:
• Lukewarm bath with colloidal oatmeal
• Wet compresses with aluminum acetate
• Calamine lotion or baking soda paste
42. Care for Plant-Induced Dermatitis (3 of 3)
• For a mild to moderate reaction:
• Same care as mild reaction but add
corticosteroid ointment
• For a severe reaction:
• Same care as mild and moderate reaction
but add an oral corticosteroid
43. Stinging Nettle
• Has stinging hairs on its stem
and leaves
• Fine needlepoint penetrates
the skin and injects an irritating
chemical.
44. Recognizing Stinging Nettle Poisoning
• Effects are limited to exposed area.
• Response is usually immediate.
• Produces some degree of:
• Redness
• Burning
• Itching
45. Care for Stinging Nettle Poisoning
• Wash area with soap and water.
• Apply cold, wet pack.
• Paste of colloidal oatmeal
• Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream
• Calamine lotion
• Apply calamine lotion.
• Take an over-the-counter antihistamine.
