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Medical Emergencies

Poisoning

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 Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26 

  • DO NOT induce vomiting, unless advised to do so by the Poisons Information Centre. 
  • DO NOT give the patient anything to eat or drink. 
  • Wash substances off the face and around the mouth with water. 

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms depend on the type of poison, and can include: 

  • bite or injection marks, with or without local swelling 
  • burns around and inside the mouth or on the tongue 
  • smell of fumes 
  • odours on the breath 
  • burning pain from mouth to stomach 
  • nausea, vomiting 
  • abdominal pain 
  • difficulty in breathing 
  • tight feeling in chest 
  • headache 
  • ringing in ears 
  • blurred vision 
  • blue lips, face, earlobes, fingernails 
  • drowsiness 
  • loss of consciousness 
  • seizures 

What to do

  1. Follow DRSABCD. 
  2. Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance. 
  3. Call Triple Zero (000) for fire services if the air is contaminated with smoke or gas. 
  4. Reassure the patient. 
  5. Find out what sort of poison is involved, if possible, and record the information for medical personnel. 
  6. Call the Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26, and follow their advice. 
  7. If the patient is becoming drowsy, place them in the recovery position and continue to check their airway and breathing regularly. 
  8. Send any vomit, containers and suicide notes with the patient to hospital.