General Procedures for Poisonings by Mouth
PROCEDURE A. When the victim is unconscious. Call for trained help. Administer artificial respiration as necessary to keep the patient breathing. Do not give fluids. Do not force the unconscious patient to vomit; but if he does so spontaneously, turn his head so that the vomitus drains out of his mouth. Save the vomitus for later examination.
PROCEDURE B. When the victim has swallowed a petroleum product such as kerosene, gasoline, benzine, paint thinner, fuel oil, and naphtha. Call for trained help. Get the victim to a hospital because of the great danger of a serious type of pneumonia. Remove any contaminated clothing and wash the underlying skin. Keep the victim quiet and warm. Use artificial respiration as necessary to keep the victim breathing. If a tank of oxygen is available, waft a stream of the oxygen gas under the victim's nose so that he breathes it. Do not force the victim to vomit except under a doctor's order and supervision. Give a glass of milk to drink so as to dilute the stomach contents. Give egg white or crushed banana by mouth to soothe the inflamed membranes.
PROCEDURE C. When the victim has swallowed a corrosive poison such as strong acid or alkali. Common examples are lye, caustic soda, drain and toilet bowl cleaners, and electric dishwasher detergents in either solid or liquid form. There may or may not be burns on the lips and around the mouth. The severe damage occurs inside the mouth and in the lining of the esophagus. Call at once for trained help. Plan for hospitalization. Dilute the caustic agent at once by giving the victim a drink of milk (or water if milk is not at hand).
Remove any contaminated clothing and wash the underlying skin. Do not try to make the victim vomit. Irritations of the lining membranes may be soothed by having the patient swallow cream or egg white. Keep the victim quiet and warm. Use cracked ice to relieve thirst.
PROCEDURE D. When the victim is having convulsions. Do not try to prevent the patient's movements just keep him from injuring himself. '(See Convulsions ) Do not give fluids by mouth. Do not force the patient to vomit, but if he vomits spontaneously, turn his head so that the material drains from his mouth.
PROCEDURE E. When the victim is conscious, is not having convulsions, and has not swallowed a petroleum product or a corrosive poison. Three principles are followed here: 1. Dilute the poison in the victim's stomach by having him drink milk or water. 2. Empty the stomach by inducing vomiting. 3. Give activated charcoal to absorb the poison that remains in the stomach.
To Induce Vomiting. Have the patient swallow the proper dose of syrup of ipecac: 1 tablespoonful (15 ml.) for a child or 2 tablespoonfuls (30 ml.) for an adult. Follow this by 2glasses or more of water or milk. If vomiting does not occur within 15 minutes, the first-aider inserts his finger and gently tickles the back of the patient's throat. If syrup of ipecac is not available, have the patient drink fluid and then tickle his throat. Vomiting should be induced even though it has been several hours since the poison was swallowed. The vomitus should be saved for later examination. If the patient is reclining, turn his head to prevent choking.
Activated Charcoal should be administered after the vomiting to absorb what remains of the poison. One or two tablespoonfuls of activated charcoal (powder) are stirred into a glass of water and given to the patient to drink. If the patient vomits again, have him drink another dose of the activated charcoal. Activated charcoal is harmless and is effective in absorbing most poisons and medicines.
