What to do in case of poisoning by ingestion, inhalation or contact

Poisoning can happen when the person ingests, inhales or comes into contact with a toxic substance, as with cleaning products, carbon monoxide, arsenic or cyanide, for example, causing symptoms such as uncontrollable vomiting, difficulty breathing and mental confusion.

In these cases, it is important that:

1. Call the Antivenom Information Center immediately, on 0800 284 4343, or call an ambulance by calling 192; Decrease exposure to the toxic agent:
   • Ingestion: the best way is to do gastric lavage in the hospital, however, while waiting for medical help you can drink 100 g of powdered activated charcoal diluted in a glass of water, for adults, or 25 g of that charcoal, for children. Charcoal sticks to the toxic substance and prevents it from being absorbed in the stomach. It can be purchased at pharmacies and some health food stores; Inhalation: try to remove the victim from the contaminated environment; Skin contact: wash the victim's skin with soap and water and remove clothing stained by the substance; Eye contact: wash eyes with cold water for 20 minutes.
   Place the person in a safe lateral position, especially if he is unconscious to prevent suffocation if he needs to vomit. Here's how to put someone in this position; Look for information about the substance that caused the poisoning by reading the label on the packaging of the toxic substance;

While waiting for medical help to arrive, it is important to be aware of whether the victim continues to breathe, initiating cardiac massage if they stop breathing. In cases of poisoning by ingestion, if the victim has burns on the lips, they should be gently moistened with water, without letting the victim swallow, because drinking water may favor the absorption of the poison.

See in this video how to proceed in case of poisoning by ingestion:

Symptoms that may indicate poisoning

Some of the symptoms that may indicate that someone is poisoned and in need of medical help are:

• Burns and intense redness on the lips; Breathing with the smell of chemicals, such as gasoline; Dizziness or mental confusion; Persistent vomiting; Difficulty breathing.

In addition, other signs, such as empty pill packs, broken pills or strong smells coming from the victim's body, may be a sign that he was using some toxic substance, and medical help should be called immediately.

What not to do in case of poisoning

In case of poisoning, you should not:

• Give liquids to the victim, as it may favor the absorption of some poisons; cause vomiting if the victim ingested a corrosive or a solvent, unless indicated by a health professional.

Information collected from the victim, or the location, should be provided to health professionals as soon as they arrive at the location.

If poisoning occurs from ingesting detergent, read what to do and how to avoid complications.