Poisoning: Recognition and Management

Young children aged 0–4 had the highest rate of accidental poisoning hospitalisations. They are often poisoned by substances left unattended and easily accessed. What can you do in a poisoning emergency? Read on! (Reading time 3 mins)
Adrian Webb
Content Manager
September 11, 2024
Poisoning: Recognition and Management

Table of Contents

Here’s what you, as a First Aider, need to know to recognise and manage a poisoning emergency. Accidental Poisoning Recognition: What it is - When someone unintentionally drinks, eats, breathes, injects or touches enough of a hazardous substance to cause illness or death. Examples - Pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, cleaning products, pesticides, Carbon Monoxide. Symptoms - Fitting, Nausea, Vomiting, Falling over, Drowsiness, Abdominal Pain, Unconsciousness Management: 1. First, ensure you can safely assist them. 2. If conscious, ask them what happened and what they have been exposed to. 3. NEVER try to induce vomiting. 4. Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24/7, Australia wide) 5. If they become unconscious, CALL 000 and start CPR. Be mindful of toxic residue on the casualty’s lips. Do compression-only CPR or use a face shield. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Recognition: What it is - When Carbon Monoxide, a toxic gas with fumes that are impossible to see, taste, or smell, is inhaled. Examples- Combustion engines and any appliances that use gas, oil, kerosene, or wood can produce carbon monoxide. Symptoms: Drowsiness, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, headaches, weakness, confusion, shortness of breath, unconsciousness and death (when exposed to high CO levels) Management: 1. Call 000 2. Ensure you can safely assist them. If it’s too dangerous, do not try. 3. Get the casualty to clean air (if safe to do so). 4. Monitor their condition. 5. If they become unconscious, perform CPR & Defibrillation.

Introduction

In this article, we will cover Poison recognition and management, and what you, as a First Aider, will need to know to recognise and manage a poisoning emergency.

Poisons: Some facts and figures

Poisoning occurs when people unintentionally drink, eat, breathe, inject or touch enough of a hazardous substance 
to cause illness or death.

Poisoning occurs when people unintentionally drink, eat, breathe, inject or touch enough of a hazardous substance (poison) to cause illness or death.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare during 2018-19 in Australia, accidental poisoning resulted in 10,500 hospitalisations and 1,400 deaths.

Of the hospitalisations, 83% were due to harmful exposure to pharmaceutical drugs. The rest were due to other substances including household cleaners, etc. Young children aged 0–4 had the highest rate of accidental poisoning hospitalisations.

Children are often poisoned by substances left unattended and easily accessed. For instance, on a bench or table, ready to be used in visitors’ bags (medicines), or on bedside tables.

Don’t assume that high cupboards provide safe storage because children learn to climb to get to things. Therefore, a locked cabinet is the best storage option.

Recognition and Management of Poisoning

If your casualty has had a significant poisoning, any symptoms that develop will depend on several factors. For example, which medicine or chemical is involved and how much the person has been exposed to.

Poisoning Symptoms

Poisoning Symptoms: Fitting, Nausea, Vomiting, Drowsiness, Falling over, Abdominal pain, Unconsciousness

Symptoms of poisoning may include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Drowsiness
  • Falling over
  • Abdominal pain
  • Fitting
  • Unconsciousness

Poisoning Management

Poisoning Management: 
1. Follow DRSABCD. 
2. Ensure you can safely assist them.
3. If conscious, ask them what happened.
4. Never try to induce vomiting.
5. Pick up the poison’s container. 
6. Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24/7, Australia wide).
7. If CPR is needed be mindful of toxic residue on the casualty’s lips.

As always with First Aid, we will start with our initial action plan, DRSABCD.

Remember: some poisons are airborne.

  • If conscious, ask the casualty what has happened and if they know what they have been exposed to.
  • Never try to induce vomiting.
  • Pick up the product container (if you have it and it is safe to do so) and take it with you to the phone. The Poisons Information Centre will want to know what ingredients are in the product.
  • Phone the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24 hours a day, Australia wide), where you will get advice on what to do next.
  • If CPR is needed be mindful of toxic residue on the casualty’s lips, so use a face shield or do compressions-only CPR.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide is a toxic gas with fumes that are impossible to see, taste, or smell, which is why it is often referred to as a silent killer. Combustion engines and any appliances that use gas, oil, kerosene, or wood can produce carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide (CO) can be a hidden danger that many people are unaware of.

It is a toxic gas with fumes that are impossible to see, taste or smell. As a result, Carbon Monoxide is often referred to as a silent killer.

All combustion engines will produce Carbon Monoxide as well as any appliances that use gas, oil, kerosene, or wood – these can produce Carbon Monoxide too.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Signs and Symptoms

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms: Nausea, Weakness, Confusion, Chest Pain, Headaches, Vomiting, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Shortness of Breath, Unconsciousness and Death (when exposed to high CO levels)

Carbon monoxide poisoning can often be mistaken for viral infections or the flu. Carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the blood when inhaled and, as a result, this may cause symptoms such as:

  • Headaches
  • Drowsiness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Weakness
  • Confusion
  • Chest pain
  • High levels of Carbon Monoxide can cause loss of consciousness and death

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Management

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Management: Use the DRSABCD Action Plan. If it is too dangerous for you to rescue the casualty, do not try. 
1. Call 000
2. Get the casualty to clean air (if safe to do so)
3. Monitor their condition
4. If required, perform CPR & Defibrillation

It is very important to use the initial action plan DRSABCD because in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning there may be a real threat to your safety.

  • If it is too dangerous for you to rescue the casualty, do not try.
  • CALL 000
  • Remove casualty to clean air, providing it is safe for you to do so
  • Monitor their condition

Recap

So, let’s recap the main points:

Firstly, symptoms of Poisoning may include:

  • Nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, falling over, abdominal pain, fitting, and/or unconsciousness.
  • Call poisons hotline on 131126
  • Don’t induce vomiting
  • DRSABCD

Secondly, for Carbon Monoxide poisoning:

  •  Follow DRSABCD
  • CALL 000
  • Remove casualty to clean air, providing it is safe for you to do so

So, if you liked this article click here for more First Aid related info.

Well, that’s that. Until next time… Stay safe.

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Adrian Webb

Adrian joined Life Saving First Aid in 2019 following a 30-year career with the Airport Fire and Rescue Service, where he responded to numerous first aid calls and dangerous or hazardous incidents, keeping the airport community safe.

Since joining Life Saving First Aid, he has delivered First Aid training to over 28,000 students. Many of them have used this training to save a life!

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