1-800-848-6946
1-800-222-1222
These
are the emergency numbers for Carolinas
Poison Center.
Don't Panic --- Stay calm
Call 9-1-1 if the child is unconscious or is having convulsions
or difficulty breathing. If possible, stop further contact with
the poison, and immediately call the Carolinas Poison Center.
Ingested or Swallowed Poison
Gently remove any remaining poison from the mouth. Call Carolinas
Poison Center for further advice. DO NOT wait for symptoms to
appear. NEVER make the victim throw up. The poison center specialist
will know if this is necessary. Bring the plant or poison container
to the phone. If you have to go to the Emergency Department take
the substance with you. Inhaled Poison
Get the victim to fresh air as soon as possible. Open doors and
windows. Avoid breathing fumes, then call Carolinas Poison Center
for further advice. If unconscious or not breathing CALL 9-1-1
and start artificial (mouth-to-mouth) respiration if the victim
is not breathing.
Skin Exposure
Remove any contaminated clothing, using gloves to protect yourself.
Wash the affected area with lots of cool (room temperature),
soapy water. Wash the contaminated clothing immediately and separately
from any other clothing.
Eye
Exposure
Immediately flush the affected eye(s) with a gentle, continuous
flow of room-temperature water for 15 minutes for each eye. Do
not just splash water in the eye. Rinse from the top of the nose
toward the side of the face, away from the other eye. Do not
use eye drops. Call Carolinas Poison Center for further advice.
Injection
(Bites/Stings)
STAY CALM-not all bites are harmful. Emergency treatment varies
depending on what bit you. Insects, ticks, nonpoisonous spiders
and bees are the most common bites. They are usually not harmful.
Poisonous spiders and snakes can be a problem. If bitten: NEVER
use a tourniquet. Try to identify the creature and call the Carolinas
Poison Center with your description for advice. Syrup of Ipecac
What is Syrup of Ipecac?
An extract derived from a Central American plant called ipecacuanha,
Syrup of Ipecac is the fastest and safest way to induce vomiting.
Its major constituents are alkaloids, cephaeline and emetine.
These substances naturally irritate the stomach and cause vomiting.
IPECAC SHOULD NEVER BE USED UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY THE
POISON CENTER OR PHYSICIAN. Some substances should not be brought
back up, in these cases vomiting can do more harm than good (examples:
kerosene, drain cleaners).
NEVER give salt water or mustard water. Also, sticking your finger
down the throat can be very harmful and may damage the back of
the throat.
If given immediately, Syrup of Ipecac can get much of the poison
out of the stomach, which reduces the absorption of the poison
into the body.
NEVER wait until symptoms show up after an ingestion or incident
with poisonous substances.
ALWAYS CALL THE CAROLINAS POISON CENTER for advice and instructions
as soon as possible after the poisoning happens.
The Carolinas Poison Center recommends families with small children
have one unexpired bottle of Ipecac in the house for each child
because:
90 percent of all poisonings occur in the home.
70 to 80 percent of patients are treated over the phone at the
site of exposure.
55
percent of all calls to poison centers involve children younger
than 5.
Activated Charcoal for Home Use
What is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal is a fine, odorless, tasteless, insoluble black
powder that binds a wide variety of toxins. This prevents the
absorption of ingested drugs and toxins from the stomach into
the blood stream. Charcoal can be administered in almost all
serious oral accidental poisoning except caustic agents (acids),
heavy metals (iron) and hydrocarbons (gasoline, kerosene, lamp
oil). Some pharmacies are already stocking over-the-counter charcoal
in their stores for home emergencies. Once charcoal is more widely
distributed, parents will be advised to also keep a bottle of
unexpired activated charcoal in the home for each child under
the age of 6, in case of an accidental poisoning. When readily
available, activated charcoal can be administered successfully,
rapidly and safely to children under 6 years of age in the home.
However, as with any poisoning, call your poison control center
first before administering any treatment product.
NOTE: Charcoal-based antacids and charcoal briquettes used in
outdoor grills are NOT equivalent to activated charcoal used in
poisoning treatment, and should NOT be given to poison victims.
|
