Poisoning
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Two kinds of poisoning have been
identified by the National Safety Council
• Solids and liquids
• Gases and vapors
 Poison - Any substance that negatively
affects body tissues and organ
functioning
 Poisons may have:
– Caustic and/or Toxic effect
Poisoning
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Poisonings may be a result of:
• Ingestion - medications,
solvents, cleaners, etc.
• Contact - poison ivy, sumac,
caustic chemicals
• Inhalation - carbon monoxide,
scotchguard
• Injection - snakebite, insect sting
Poisoning
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Human Factors
– Younger age groups at high risk (1-5
yrs)
– Adventurous
– Can’t read
– Often put things in mouth
– Actions by adults
• equating medicine with candy
• changing containers
Poisonings
Poisonous plants
 Child resistant packaging
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Poison proofing your home
Store household products and
medicines out of reach and out of
sight of children, preferably in a
locked storage area
 Store medicines separate from other
household products and keep in
original containers
 All products should be labeled

Poison-proofing Your Home
Avoid taking medicine in the
presence of children
 Refer to medicines by their proper
names, not “candy”
 Clean out medicine cabinet
periodically - flush old medications
down toilet
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Inhalation
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Due mostly from carbon monoxide
poisoning
 Carbon monoxide a product of incomplete
combustion from furnaces, gas heaters,
kerosene heaters, gas, oil, etc.
 COT - colorless, odorless and tasteless
 Deadly - Carbon monoxide is more
reactive with hemoglobin in red blood
cells than oxygen
Effects of Carbon Monoxide
poisoning and First Aid
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Fatigue, nausea, headache
Similar to flu symptoms, without the fever
Discoloration of skin
Vomiting
Cessation of breathing
First Aid
• Get victim to fresh air as soon as
possible
• Call EMS
• Monitor ABC’s
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Prevention
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Keep auto exhaust system maintained
Have heating equipment in home
(furnaces) serviced or inspected at least
once a year
Ventilation - if working indoors with any
equipment that can produce carbon
monoxide
Follow instructions with space heaters
Keep cars in good working order
Don’t run the car while standing still
unless there is good air circulation
Poison Ivy - Oak - Sumac
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Best protection is prevention
– Know the ways to identify and stay away from
them
– Wear long sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and
socks, etc. Launder these clothes if they come
in contact
– Never burn these plants
– Be careful of pets
Vaccine exists which neutralizes the urushiol that
causes the contact dermatitis
Injection
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8 out of every 1,000 people are allergic to
bee venom. Some severely allergic. For
these people death can occur in about 15
minutes.
These people need to carry emergency
sting kits.
The majority (65%) will die within an hour
from Anaphylactic Shock.
Desensitization injections - Hymenoptera
venom.
Honeybees can only sting once; wasps
sting repeatedly; yellow jackets bite and
sting
Sting prevention
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Avoid scented cosmetics
Avoid bright colored clothing
Wear shoes
Avoid loose fitting garments
Avoid insect feeding grounds
Have insect nests exterminated
Keep auto windows closed while driving
Cover up when working in garden or
flower beds
Insects are attracted to food - so be
careful
Don’t incite them
Spiders and Snakes
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Prevention is the key
 Most bites are not lethal, but some can kill
– black widow spider
– scorpion
– western diamond back rattlesnake
 Snakebites occur most often in warmer
weather
 Snakebites occur most often in a person’s
own yard
Preventing snake bites
Don’t move when you hear a snake
rattle. Snakes usually strike at
moving objects.
 In snake infested areas wear boots
and plenty of clothes.
 Avoid areas where snakes may
inhabit
 Avoid handling or playing with
snakes
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Preventing Snake Bites
Do not sleep on the ground
 Be cautious around areas where
snakes may be looking for food
 Be alert while walking along your
intended path
 Keep grass, weeds and brush cut so
snakes can’t hide
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What to do in case of accidental
poisoning
Remain calm
 Act quickly
 Call for help
 Know and post poison control center
number: 1-800-222-1222
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Signs of Swallowed Poisoning
Abdominal pain and cramping
 Nausea or vomiting
 Diarrhea
 Burns, stains, odor near or in mouth
 Drowsiness or unconsciousness
 Poison containers
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First Aid for Swallowed Poisons
(1 of 3)
1. Determine critical information
– Age and size of victim
– What was the poison?
– How much was taken?
– When was it swallowed?
2. If poison is corrosive or caustic, dilute
by having victim drink water or milk
First Aid for Swallowed Poisons
(2 of 3)
3. For responsive victim,
call poison control center
4. For unresponsive victim,
check ABCs and call 9-11
5. Place victim in recovery
position
First Aid for Swallowed Poisons
(3 of 3)
6. If advised, induce vomiting
7. If advised, give activated charcoal
8. Save poison containers, plants, and
victim’s vomit to help medical
personnel identify poison
Poisoning Victim - First Aid Principles
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Conscious
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Noncorrosive
 Call poison
 control
Unconscious
Corrosive
Call poison
control
Call poison
control
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Dilute w/milk or
Dilute, if told
 water if told to do so to do so
Do not attempt to
dilute
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Induce vomiting,
 if told to do so
Transport to
medical facility
Monitor vital signs
and use CPR if
necessary
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Transport to
 medical facility, if
 requested
Request
emergency
transport ASAP
Homeowner’s Insurance
Structural protection
 Personal property
 Loss of use
 Personal liability
 Medical payments
 Goodwill coverage
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Other types of Dwelling Insurance
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Condominium insurance - usually does
not protect the building you live in outside
your interior walls
 Renter’s insurance
– Owner - responsible for the structure
and surrounding grounds
– Renter - responsible for protecting
his/her valuables, such as clothing and
furniture. Same basic coverages as
homeowners. Each renter should have
a separate renter’s policy.
Other Types of Dwelling
Insurance
University students - may be covered
by parents’ homeowners’ policy
 Special options
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– scheduled personal property
endorsement
– replacement cost value endorsement