1. Chapter 18
Poisoning

2. Poisons (1 of 2)
A poison is also known as a toxin and is defined as anything that can cause harm to someone if it is used in the wrong way, used by the wrong person, or used in the wrong amount.

3. Poisons (2 of 2) Types Forms Ingested Inhaled Injected
Absorbed (contact)
Forms
Solids
Liquids
Sprays
Gases

4. Poisons Found in the Home
Antifreeze and windshield washer
Some medicines
Corrosive cleaners
Fuels
Pesticides

5. Ingested (Swallowed) Poisons
Occurs when victim swallows a toxic substance
Account for 80% of all poisonings
Analgesics account for largest category.
Do not confuse poisoning frequency with poisoning severity.

6. Recognizing Ingested Poisons
Abdominal pain and cramping
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Burns, odor, or stains around and in the mouth
Drowsiness or unconsciousness
Seizure
Poison container nearby

7. Care for Ingested Poisons (1 of 3)
Check the condition of the victim.
Call immediately if the person:
Is unresponsive
Is having trouble breathing
Has severe pain in the chest
Shows other life-threatening signs

8. Care for Ingested Poisons (2 of 3)
Call Poison Help
Tell poison expert:
Name of product
Amount involved
How long ago poison contacted victim
Signs you notice
Courtesy of the American Association of Poison Control Centers

9. Care for Ingested Poisons (3 of 3)
Place the victim on his or her left side.
Save poison container, plants, and victim’s vomitus.

10. Alcohol Emergencies Alcohol is a depressant.
Alcohol affects a person’s:
Judgment
Vision
Reaction time
Coordination
Can cause death
© Doug Menuez/Photodisc/Getty Images

11. Recognizing Intoxication
Odor of alcohol on breath or clothing
Unsteadiness, staggering walking
Slurred speech and inability to carry on conversations
Nausea and vomiting
Flushed face
Seizures

12. Care for Alcohol Intoxication (1 of 2)
Look for any injuries.
Monitor breathing and treat accordingly.
Place the person on the left side.
Call poison center for advice and emergency medical services (EMS) for help.

13. Care for Alcohol Intoxication (2 of 2)
If the victim is violent, leave the scene.
Provide emotional support.
Assume that an injured or unresponsive victim has a spinal injury.
Move person to a warm place.

14. Drug Emergencies Drug classifications: Uppers (stimulants)
Downers (depressants)
Hallucinogens
Alter and enhance sensory and emotional information
Volatile chemicals
Cause serious damage to organs

15. Sympathomimetics Sympathomimetics are stimulants.
A stimulant is any agent that produces an excited state.
Courtesy of DEA

16. Recognizing Sympathomimetic Use
Disorganized behavior
Hyperactivity
Restlessness
Anxiety or great fear
Paranoia
Delusions

17. Care for Sympathomimetic Users
Check breathing.
Call poison center or
Check for injuries.
Place in recovery position.
Provide reassurance and emotional support.
If violent, seek safety.
Seek medical care.

18. Hallucinogens Produce changes in mood and sensory awareness
Might make users dangerous to themselves and others

19. Recognizing Hallucinogen Use
Visual hallucinations
Intensity of vision and hearing

20. Care for Hallucinogen Use
Check breathing.
Call poison center or
Check for injuries.
Keep person on left side.
Provide reassurance and emotional support.
If violent, seek safety.
Seek medical care.

21. Marijuana
An estimated 20 million people use marijuana daily in the United States.
© Ben Smith/ShutterStock, Inc.

22. Recognizing Marijuana Overdose
Euphoria, relaxation, drowsiness
Short-term memory loss
Impaired capacity for complex thinking and work
Depression, confusion
Altered perception of time
Anxiety, panic
Hallucinations

23. Care for Marijuana Overdose
Check breathing.
Call poison center or
Check for injuries.
Place on the left side.
Provide reassurance and emotional support.
If violent, seek safety.
Seek medical care.

24. Depressants Easy to obtain
People sometimes solicit prescriptions from several physicians.
Includes:
Opiates
Sedative-hypnotics

25. Recognizing Sedative-Hypnotic Drug Use
Drowsiness, sleepiness
Slurred speech
Slow breathing rate

26. Recognizing Opiate Overdose
Reduced breathing rate
Pinpoint pupils
Sedated condition and unresponsiveness

27. Care for Depressant Overdose
Check breathing.
Call poison center or
Check for injuries.
Place on the left side.
Provide reassurance and emotional support.
If violent, seek safety.
Seek medical care.

28. Abused Inhalants
Inhaling glue or other solvents produces effects similar to those from ingesting alcohol.
Persons who sniff these substances can die of suffocation.

29. Recognizing Abused Inhalant
Mild drowsiness to unresponsiveness
Slurred speech and clumsiness
Seizures
Slow breathing rate
Smell of solvents

30. Care for Abused Inhalant
Check breathing.
Call poison center or
Check for injuries.
Place on the left side.
Provide reassurance and emotional support.
If violent, seek safety.
Seek medical care.

31. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is:
Odorless
Colorless
Nonirritating
Produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels

32. Carbon Monoxide Sources
Cars
Cigarettes
Faulty furnaces
Water heaters
Kerosene heaters
Open-flame fires
Charcoal grills
Hibachi grills

33. Recognizing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Headache
Ringing in ears
Chest pain
Muscle weakness
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness and visual changes
Unresponsiveness
Respiratory and cardiac arrest
Cherry-red skin and lips

34. Earmarks of Possible Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Symptoms come and go.
Symptoms worsen and improve in certain places and at certain times of the day.
Nearby people have similar symptoms.
Pets seem ill.

35. Care for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Remove victim from environment immediately.
Call
To reverse the effects:
4 to 5 hours with ordinary air
30 to 40 minutes with 100% oxygen
Monitor breathing.
Place unresponsive breathing victim in recovery position.
Seek medical care.

36. Plant-Induced Dermatitis
About 85% of the population is sensitive to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
The resin of these plants is a colorless or slightly yellow, light oil.
Spreads by direct contact
Can stay active for months or years

37. Poison Ivy and Poison Oak
Low bushes or climbing vines
Waxy, broad, green leaves in summer
Brown to red leaves in fall
Leaflets grow in groups of three.
© Thomas Photography LLC/Alamy Images
© Thomas J. Peterson/Alamy Images

38. Poison Sumac Found in damp, swampy areas Black spot test
Courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife Service

39. Recognizing Plant-Induced Dermatitis
Mild: itching
Mild to moderate: itching and redness
Moderate: itching, redness, and swelling
Severe: itching, redness, swelling, and blisters
© pinkannjoh/age fotostock

40. Care for Plant-Induced Dermatitis (1 of 3)
Clean skin with soap and cold water as soon as possible.
Apply rubbing alcohol liberally.
Remove with water.

41. Care for Plant-Induced Dermatitis (2 of 3)
For a mild reaction:
Lukewarm bath with colloidal oatmeal
Wet compresses with aluminum acetate
Calamine lotion or baking soda paste

42. Care for Plant-Induced Dermatitis (3 of 3)
For a mild to moderate reaction:
Same care as mild reaction but add corticosteroid ointment
For a severe reaction:
Same care as mild and moderate reaction but add an oral corticosteroid

43. Stinging Nettle Has stinging hairs on its stem and leaves
Fine needlepoint penetrates the skin and injects an irritating chemical.

44. Recognizing Stinging Nettle Poisoning
Effects are limited to exposed area.
Response is usually immediate.
Produces some degree of:
Redness
Burning
Itching

45. Care for Stinging Nettle Poisoning
Wash area with soap and water.
Apply cold, wet pack.
Paste of colloidal oatmeal
Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream
Calamine lotion
Apply calamine lotion.
Take an over-the-counter antihistamine.