Poisoning Basics
What is Poisoning?
When a substance causes injury, illness, or death by entering the body.
What is ingested poisoning?
When a poison is swallowed or eaten
What is inhaled poisoning?
When toxic fumes or gases are breathed into the lungs.
What is absorbed poisoning?
When a poison enters the body through the skin.
What is injected poisoning?
When a poison enters the body through a bite, sting, or needle.
Two common causes of poisoning
What is Household chemicals, medications, cleaning products, alcohol, or food?
Name one way to prevent ingested poisoning
Keep medicines and chemicals out of children’s reach or properly label containers.
Give one example of an inhaled poison.
Carbon monoxide, smoke, or chemical fumes.
Name two common sources of absorbed poisons.
Poison ivy, pesticides, or fertilizers.
Name two signs or symptoms of injected poisoning.
Swelling, redness, pain at the site, dizziness, or difficulty breathing.
List three factors that affect the severity of poisoning.
Type and amount of poison, how it entered the body, and the person’s size, age, or health.
List two signs or symptoms of ingested poisoning.
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion, or burns around the mouth.
Name two signs or symptoms of inhaled poisoning
Trouble breathing, headache, dizziness, nausea, or confusion.
What are two signs or symptoms of absorbed poisoning?
Redness, swelling, rash, or burning at the contact site.
What is the care for someone having an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis?
Call 911, use an epinephrine auto-injector if available, and monitor breathing.
What are general care steps for any poisoning emergency?
Remove the person from the source, check for responsiveness and breathing, call 911 or Poison Control, and monitor their condition.
What is the first step in care for someone who swallowed poison?
Call Poison Control or 911 before giving anything to eat or drink.
What’s the first thing you should do for someone exposed to poisonous fumes?
Get them to fresh air immediately.
What is the first step in treating absorbed poisoning?
Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin with water for 15–20 minutes.
What is anaphylaxis?
A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.
What is the Poison Control Center phone number and how can they help?
1-800-222-1222; they give immediate expert advice on treating poisoning
you make someone vomit after swallowing poison? Why or why not?
No — vomiting can cause more damage depending on the substance.
After moving them to fresh air, what is the next step in care?
Call 911 and monitor breathing; give CPR if necessary.
Should you apply ointments or creams after rinsing the skin?
No — only apply medications if directed by a healthcare professional.
What’s the difference between epinephrine and antihistamines?
Epinephrine treats life-threatening reactions immediately; antihistamines treat mild symptoms like itching or hives.