Safety and prevention

Poison prevention and treatment

Poisoning can happen at any age, but young children are especially at risk. Most often, poisoning happens right at home in the kitchen, bathroom, garage or backyard.

Steps to help:
If you suspect poisoning, always call your local poison control center FIRST for advice. Contact the Connecticut Poison Control Center at (800) 343-2722 (CT only) or (860) 679-3456.

If poison may have been swallowed,

• Stay calm and act quickly. Get the substance away from your child and call poison control first, not your own doctor. Do NOT follow "antidote" directions on the product label. Sometimes these directions are wrong or out-of-date.
• If you can, tell them:
  • Your name and phone number.
  • Your child's name and age and any medications he is taking.
  • Exactly what was ingested (read the name of the substance off the label, if possible).
  • How much may have been taken.
  • What the pill looked like.
  • How the child acts.
  • When this may have happened.
• Try to discover whether the child has truly been poisoned. (It is not always easy to tell). Some poisons take hours to act. Check for:
  • Burns around the mouth.
  • Breathing problems.
  • Severe throat pain.
  • Vomiting.
  • Unusual odors in the mouth.
  • Changes in behavior (sleepiness or jumpiness).
• Induce vomiting only if told to do so by the poison control center. Certain substances should not be vomited up. To induce vomiting, give the child a dose of Syrup of Ipecac as instructed by poison control. The amount of the dose depends on your child's age and weight.
• If the child vomits, turn the child's head to the side if possible to help them avoid choking on the vomit. If you must clean out the airway, wrap your fingers in a cloth before cleaning out the mouth.
• Continue to check the pulse, temperature, blood pressure (if possible) and rate of breathing.
• Plan on bringing your child to the emergency department or physician, as directed by poison control center. Bring the poison container with you.

If poison has been inhaled

• Call for help first if person is trapped in a building or a dangerous situation.
• If you have to enter a building, take several deep breaths of fresh air then hold your breath. Remove the person from the gas, fumes or smoke. Hold a wet cloth over your nose and mouth. Open windows and doors to remove fumes.
• Do not light a match because fumes may catch fire.
• Check the child's airway, breathing and pulse. If necessary, perform CPR.
• If the child vomits, protect the airway.
• Even if the child seems okay, get medical help.

Where poisons are found
Bathrooms, garages and kitchens are in some ways the most dangerous rooms in your house – at least when it comes to poisonings. Children naturally put most everything – including poisons – in their mouths. Keeping an eye on your child is the best way to prevent poisoning, but no child can be watched every second. Take these steps to poison-proof your home.

Plants
Even plants, including the bulbs, leaves and stems found in the house and around the yard, can be toxic. Learn the types of plants in your yard and remove any poisonous species.

Bathrooms often contain medicines, household cleaners, cosmetics that can be poisonous if swallowed. Kitchens may have detergents, drain cleaners or insecticides. Food poisoning often starts in the kitchen when food is improperly prepared or stored. Garages may contain all of these and more, including paints, gasoline, oil, chemicals and other substances.

Prevention tips:

• Keep medicines – both prescription and over-the-counter medications in a locked medicine cabinet.
• Buy and use medications that come with child safety caps.
• Keep detergents, cleaners, sprays and other chemicals on a high shelf away from a child's reach.
• Keep these chemicals in original containers and dispose of empty containers properly. A cabinet lock provides extra protection.
• Install drawer and cabinet locks as needed.
• Teach children about the dangers of poisons. Label all poisons.
• Be very watchful of children when visiting homes or buildings that are not childproofed.
• Don't run your car or other gas burning machines in a garage.
• If you smell gas, turn off the stove or burner, leave the house and call for emergency help.
• Install and routinely check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Connecticut Poison Control Center: (800) 343-2722 (CT only).

See also:

• YNHH Health Library: Household safety checklist

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Reviewed: Greg Germain, MD, December 1999
Modified: June 4, 2007 (dh)

Home page URL: http://www.ynhh.org

All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.