How to Help a Person Who Has Ingested Poison

By eHow Health Editor

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The most commonly ingested poisons are drugs (including alcohol), plants and contaminated food. Treatment for ingested poison involves diluting the poison and getting it out of the stomach before it is absorbed into the system.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Advanced First Aid Certification
First Aid Books
Dried Mustard
Activated Charcoal
First Aid Kits
Mild Soap
Syrup Of Ipecac

Step1

Identify the source of the poison: Was it a petroleum or corrosive chemical product (camping stove fuel, bleach?)? Was it a plant, food or drug?

Step2

Induce vomiting immediately if the following conditions are true: The poisoned person is fully conscious and coherent; you determine that the poison was not from a petroleum or corrosive chemical product. Vomiting may be induced by having the person drink a mixture of 2 tbsp. of syrup of ipecac with a half liter of water.

Step3

Administer another dose of syrup of ipecac and water after 20 minutes if the person had not yet vomited.

Step4

Mix 5 tbsp. of activated charcoal with a small amount of water after the vomiting has ceased. This mixture will absorb what is left in the stomach.

Step5

Drink copious amounts of water after vomiting to dilute the poison.

Step6

Save a sample of the ingested substance for identification.

Step7

Evacuate to a hospital immediately.

Tips & Warnings

If syrup of ipecac is unavailable, vomiting can be induced using one of the following methods: drink 2 tbsp. of mild soap or 1 tbsp. of dried mustard mixed with a half liter of water; tickle the back of the throat.
Do not induce vomiting if you suspect the person has ingested a petroleum or corrosive chemical product. Vomiting may further damage the esophagus and lungs as the poison comes back up.
Do not induce vomiting if the person is unconscious, disoriented, or having seizures. The vomit may obstruct the airway.
If an unconscious poison victim begins to vomit, turn her on one side to keep the airway open.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 12/8/2005 I am nearly finished with my EMT training, and I have learned that you never induce vomiting with syrup of Ipecac. Instead, immediately dial 911. The paramedics have something called Activated Charcoal which they administer to a patient who has swallowed a poison. The Activated Charcoal then binds with the poison in the stomach and prevents absorption by the body.

Syrup of Ipecac is ineffective and dangerous. The vomiting that ensues after ingestion of the Ipecac is excessively violent, the patient suffers severe abdominal cramping, and only about 2/3 of the stomach contents are emptied, leaving poison still in the stomach enabling the body to absorb it.

There are also long-term effects of the Ipecac. Some traces of the Ipecac will build up in the body's tissues, which could later on affect the heart and lead to dysrhythmias. For those with heart disease or who are genetically predisposed to heart disease are at greater risk for these dysrhythmias, which could be fatal.

So, if someone swallows a poison, always call 911 and let the professionals care for the patient.