Chapter 14
Poisons
A poison is any substance that impairs health or causes death by its chemical action when it
enters the body or comes in contact with the skin
Ingested Poisons
Ingested poisoning occurs when the victim swallows a toxic substance
Recognizing Ingested Poisoning
The signs of ingested poisoning include the following:
 Abdominal pain and cramping
 Nausea or vomiting
 Diarrhea
 Burns, odor, or stains around and in the mouth
 Drowsiness or unresponsiveness
 Poison container nearby
Care for Ingested Poisons
To care for victims who have ingested poisons:
Determine the following:
 The age and size of the victim
 What was swallowed (read container label; save vomit for analysis)
 How much was swallowed (for example, a dozen tablets)
 When it was swallowed
For a responsive victim call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222
For an unresponsive victim, open the victim’s airway, check breathing, and treat accordingly.
Call 9-1-1.
Alcohol and Other Drug Emergencies
Poisoning caused by an overdose or abuse of medications and other substances, including
alcohol, is common. The most commonly abused drug in the United States is Alcohol
Recognizing Alcohol Intoxication
Helping an intoxicated person can be difficult because the person may be belligerent or
combative. The victim’s condition may be quite serious, even life threatening.
Signs indicate alcohol intoxication:
 The odor of alcohol on a person’s breath or clothing
 Unsteadiness, staggering
 Confusion
 Slurred speech
 Nausea and vomiting
 Flushed face
Care for Alcohol Intoxication
To care for alcohol intoxication:
If victim is responsive:
 Monitor breathing
 Call poison control center for advice
 Look for injuries
 Place in recovery position (left side).
 If victim is unresponsive, open airway, check breathing, and treat accordingly. Call 9-1-1
Recognizing Drug Overdose
Signs of a drug:
 Drowsiness, anxiety, agitation, or hyperactivity
 Change In pupil size
 Confusion
 Hallucinations
Care for Drug Overdose
Care for drug overdose is the same as that for alcohol intoxication.
Inhaled Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning victims are often unaware of the gas’s presence. The gas is
invisible, tasteless, odorless, and nonirritating
Recognizing Inhaled Poisoning
 Signs of inhaled poisoning:
 Headache
 Ringing in the ears
 Chest pain
 Muscle weakness
 Nausea and Vomiting
 Dizziness and visual changes (blurred or double vision)
 Unresponsiveness
Care for Inhaled Poisoning
To care for victims of carbon monoxide poisoning:
 Get the victim out of the toxic environment and into fresh air.
 Call 9-1-1.
 Monitor breathing
 Try to determine what substance was involved
Chemical Safety at the Worksite
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) list the hazardous ingredients of products, as well as
characteristics, effects on human health, and treatment for exposure
Plant Poisoning
About 50% of people exposed to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are allergic to the
plant and will react to it.
Recognizing Plant Poisoning
An allergic reaction usually occurs 24 to 72 hours after contact
The signs of plant poisoning include the following:
 Rash
 Itching
 Redness
 Blisters
 Swelling
Care for Plant Poisoning
To care for plant poisoning:
 People who know they have been in contact with a poisonous plant should wash the
affected area with soap and cold water as soon as possible to remove oily resin or should
be apply rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol liberally (not in swab-type dabs).
 For a mild reaction, have the victim soak in a lukewarm bath sprinkled with 1 to 2 cups
of colloidal oatmeal or apply one of the following:
o Calamine lotion ( calamine ointment if the skin becomes dry and cracked)
o Baking soda paste: 1 teaspoon of water mixed with 3 teaspoons of baking soda
o For a more severe reaction, care for the skin as you would for a mild reaction, a
prescribed corticosteroid may be needed
Chapter 14
Poisons
A poison is any substance that impairs health or causes death by its chemical action when it
enters the body or comes in contact with the skin
Ingested Poisons
Ingested poisoning occurs when ________________________________________________
Recognizing Ingested Poisoning
The signs of ingested poisoning include the following:
 Abdominal pain and cramping
 ________________________________________________
 Diarrhea
 Burns, odor, or stains around and in the mouth
 ________________________________________________
 Poison container nearby
Care for Ingested Poisons
To care for victims who have ingested poisons:
Determine the following:
 ________________________________________________
 What was swallowed (read container label; save vomit for analysis)
 How much was swallowed (for example, a dozen tablets)
 ________________________________________________
For a responsive victim call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222
For an unresponsive victim, open the victim’s airway, check breathing, and treat accordingly.
Call 9-1-1.
Alcohol and Other Drug Emergencies
Poisoning caused by an overdose or abuse of medications and other substances, including
alcohol, is common. The most commonly abused drug in the United States is Alcohol
Recognizing Alcohol Intoxication
Helping an intoxicated person can be difficult because the person may be belligerent or
combative. The victim’s condition may be quite serious, even life threatening.
Signs indicate alcohol intoxication:
 The odor of alcohol on a person’s breath or clothing
 ________________________________________________
 Confusion
 ________________________________________________
 Nausea and vomiting
 Flushed face
Care for Alcohol Intoxication
To care for alcohol intoxication:
If victim is responsive:
 ________________________________________________
 Call poison control center for advice
 ________________________________________________
 Place in recovery position (left side).
 If victim is unresponsive, open airway, check breathing, and treat accordingly. Call 9-1-1
Recognizing Drug Overdose
Signs of a drug:
 Drowsiness, anxiety, agitation, or hyperactivity
 ________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________
 Hallucinations
Care for Drug Overdose
Care for drug overdose is the same as that for alcohol intoxication.
Inhaled Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning victims are often unaware of the gas’s presence. The gas is
invisible, tasteless, odorless, and nonirritating
Recognizing Inhaled Poisoning
 Signs of inhaled poisoning:
 ________________________________________________
 Ringing in the ears
 ________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________
 Nausea and Vomiting
 Dizziness and visual changes (blurred or double vision)
 Unresponsiveness
Care for Inhaled Poisoning
To care for victims of carbon monoxide poisoning:
 Get the victim out of the toxic environment and into fresh air.
 ________________________________________________
 Monitor breathing
 Try to determine what substance was involved
Chemical Safety at the Worksite
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) list the hazardous ingredients of products, as well as
characteristics, effects on human health, and treatment for exposure
Plant Poisoning
About 50% of people exposed to poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are allergic to the
plant and will react to it.
Recognizing Plant Poisoning
An allergic reaction usually occurs 24 to 72 hours after contact
The signs of plant poisoning include the following:
 ________________________________________________
 Itching
 ________________________________________________
 Blisters
 Swelling
Care for Plant Poisoning
To care for plant poisoning:
 People who know they have been in contact with a poisonous plant should wash the
affected area with soap and cold water as soon as possible to remove oily resin or should
be apply rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol liberally (not in swab-type dabs).
 For a mild reaction, have the victim soak in a lukewarm bath sprinkled with 1 to 2 cups
of colloidal oatmeal or apply one of the following:
o Calamine lotion ( calamine ointment if the skin becomes dry and cracked)
o Baking soda paste: 1 teaspoon of water mixed with 3 teaspoons of baking soda
o For a more severe reaction, care for the skin as you would for a mild reaction, a
prescribed corticosteroid may be needed