Emergency First Aid

for Children
9. Poisoning
"Around 30,000 poisoning incidents a year
involve infants and toddlers. More than half
of the cases involve medicines*. It’s
important that anyone looking after a child
remembers to keep medicines locked
away."

* DTI figures for 1999

 Swallowed Chemicals
Treatment
• Wipe away any residual
chemical around the mouth and
face
• Casualty’s lips may be burned or
discoloured so give frequent sips
of cold water or milk
• Find out what chemical was
swallowed (show container to the
Doctor)

DO NOT induce vomiting

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 Drug Poisoning
DO NOT induce vomiting

Treatment – Conscious casualty

• Talk calmly to the casualty, try to find out
when they took the medicine and how
much they swallowed.
• Examine the label on the medicine bottle
and give the information to they doctor.
 Drug Poisoning
Treatment – Unconscious casualty
• Call an ambulance
• Open the casualty’s mouth – pick out
any drugs you can see
• Open the airway – follow ABCs (if
breathing place in recovery position).
• Try to find out what drugs have been
swallowed and the quantity.
 Anaphylactic Shock
• Is a massive allergic reaction that can
develop a short time after contact with a
trigger substance – which may be a
particular drug, the sting of a particular
insect, or the ingestion of a particular food.

• If untreated can kill

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 Anaphylactic Shock
Signs & Symptoms
• Intensely itchy rash, often with white raised areas
• Sudden drop in blood pressure
• Extreme anxiety, including sense of imminent death
• Swollen, face, lips, tongue and throat
• Rapid pulse
• Puffy eyes
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Wheezing, tight chest or breathing difficulty
• Abdominal pain, feelings of nausea
• Faintness
• Loss of consciousness
CALL AN AMBULANCE
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 Alcohol Poisoning
Recognising:
• Strong smell of alcohol
• Flushed and moist face
• Slurred speech
• Staggering
• Deep noisy breath
• Nausea
• Bounding pulse
 Alcohol Poisoning
• Call a doctor
• Allow casualty to rest
• Place bowl nearby in case they are sick
• If casualty falls asleep check to make sure
they can be easily roused.

• If unconscious, follow ABCs and if

breathing place in recovery position.
 Plant Poisoning
DO NOT induce vomiting.
If casualty is sick, show a sample to the Doctor

Treatment
• Try to find out what the casualty has
eaten, keep a sample to show the Doctor
• Look inside their mouth – pick out any
remaining pieces of plant.
• If unconscious, follow ABCs and if
breathing place in recovery position.

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Emergency First Aid
for Children

End of Section