Poisoning

Home Treatment

First aid home treatment measures for suspected poisoning

Call the local or provincial poison control centre, hospital, or doctor immediately. Have the poison container with you so you can give complete information to the poison control centre. Do not try to cause vomiting. If the local or provincial poison control centre recommends vomiting for a specific substance, follow their guidelines.

The poison control centre will be able to help you quickly if you have the following information ready:

• Your name and phone number
• The name, age, weight, and health status of the person who has been poisoned
• Type of product. Read the brand name as it is written on the label. Include the list of ingredients and the company name and contact number, if it is available on the label.
• Amount of product involved in poisoning
• Type of poison exposure—swallowed, inhaled, or in contact with the eyes or skin
• Time of poisoning
• Whether the person vomited
• Any first aid measures taken
• Your location and how far you are from an emergency medical facility

If the poison control centre recommends medical evaluation, take the product container or substance and any stomach contents that the person vomited to help doctors determine the seriousness of the poisoning.

Note:

Do not use syrup of ipecac. It is no longer used to treat poisonings. If you have syrup of ipecac in your home, flush it down the toilet and throw away the container. Do not store anything else in the container.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Follow the instructions you received from your doctor or the poison control centre about seeking medical evaluation. Call your doctor if any of the following occurs during home treatment:

• New symptoms develop.
• Symptoms do not go away as expected.
• Symptoms become more severe or frequent.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: November 15, 2007
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
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