POISONING

POISON- A substance which when administered, inhaled or swallowed is capable

of acting deleteriously on the body.
-A toxic dose of a medicine/drug
TYPES OF POISONS (ACCDG. TO MECHANISM OF ACTION)
1. CORROSIVE POISONS
These are highly active irritants which produce both inflammation and
ulceration of tissues.
This includes strong acids and alkalis.
2. IRRITANT POISONS
These produce symptoms of pain in the abdomen, purging and
vomiting.
a. Inorganic poisons
Metallic Arsenic, antimony, mercury, lead and copper
Non-metallic - Phosphorus, chlorine, bromine and iodine
b. Organic poisons
Vegetable - Castor oil
Animal snakes, scorpions, spiders
c. Mechanical poisons
- Powder glass, diamond dust
3. NEUROTIC POISONS
These chiefly act on the central nervous system.
Headache, drowsiness, giddiness, delirium, stupor, coma, and
convulsion
Opium, alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, anaesthetics
4. CARDIAC POISONS
Includes cardiac glycosides substances that act on the contractile
force of the heart (extremely toxic)
Digitalis foxglove (Digoxin), tobacco
5. ASPHYXIANTS
substance that can cause unconsciousness or death by suffocation
Coal gas, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, war gases
6. MISCELLANEOUS
Analgesics, antipyretics, tranquillizers, antidepressants
POISON CAN ENTER THE BODY THROUGH:

Inhalation
Absorption
Ingestion
Injection
Instilled (into the eye)

MECHANISM OF ACTION

 Local action- act directly on the tissues and cause corrosion, irritation and
inflammation
Remote action- As the poison gets absorbed systemically, it produces both
specific CNS, spinal cord, cardiac and nonspecific shock.
FIRST AID: POISONING
Stay back and assess the scene. Be careful of contamination.
Call the National Poison Management and Control Center
Attend to the patient and perform primary assessment
FIRST AID: INGESTED POISON
Check airway.
Remove anything remaining in the patients mouth
NEVER induce vomiting if the patient is unconscious. The patient could
choke to death.
NEVER induce vomiting if the patient swallowed a corrosive poison.
Dilute the corrosive poison by giving water or milk
Syrup of ipecac: The American Association of Poison Control Centers no
longer recommend using ipecac to induce vomiting.
FIRST AID: POISON IN THE EYE
Wash the eyes with copious amounts of lukewarm water
Continue washing for 15-20 minutes
Do not use drugs or chemicals in washing the eye. They may increase the
extent of the injury.
FIRST AID: POISON IN THE SKIN
Remove any contaminated clothing using gloves.
Rinse the skin for 15-20 minutes using a shower or hose
FIRST AID: INHALED POISON

Get the patient into fresh air immediately.

Loosen all tight clothing
If patient vomits, turn his head to the side to prevent choking.
If patient has stopped breathing, perform CPR.
If patient is convulsing, cushion his head to prevent head injury. Time the
seizure.
If convulsion has stopped, check breathing and turn the patient to his side.
FIRST AID: CPR
Check patient responsiveness /consciousness

 Check ABC
A-irway
B-reathing
C-irculation
If there is no breathing, perform CPR.
o Consider giving only compressions as you may be in danger of being
poisoned when giving rescue breaths.
If the patient is unconscious and breathing, place the patient in a stable side
position.
Try to find out what has been taken, how much and when
Animal bites

Triangular head- venomous

Oblong head- nonvenomous
Horseshoe like bite- nonvenomous
Scaly- venomous
Smooth- nonvenomous
Vertical- venomous
Oblong- nonvenomous
Winding walk- venomous
* Do not massage the area of animal bites