First Aid for Poisonings

There are some first aid measures for poisonings that make a difference if accomplished within seconds to minutes of a poison exposure. Be familiar with the steps below for swallowed poisons, poisons in the eye, on the skin, or inhaled (breathed in). Call 911 right away if the individual collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened.

SWALLOWED Poisons

Drink a small amount of water or milk immediately if:

The product swallowed is burning, irritating or caustic, AND
The person is conscious, not having convulsions, and able to swallow.

Then, get help from Poison Control. There 2 ways to get help:

Call 1-800-222-1222, OR
Use webPOISONCONTROL to get specific recommendations for your case online.

Poisons in the EYE, on the SKIN, or INHALED:

in the EYE	on the SKIN	INHALED
It's important that you irrigate (rinse the exposed eyes) immediately. Every second matters and a delay could result in loss of sight. Remove contact lenses. Use lots of room temperature water and irrigate for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Adults and older children may find it easier to hop in the shower. Wrap young children in a towel and let water from the faucet in the kitchen sink run over the eye - or slowly pour water from a pitcher. Let the water hit the bridge of the nose and gently run into the eyes rather than pouring the water directly into the eye. Important: Irrigate for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Encourage blinking. After the 15 to 20 minute irrigation, let the eye rest while you call Poison Control for additional help. If irritation, pain, visual problems, redness, swelling, or tearing persist an hour after irrigation is started, you'll need an urgent ophthalmic exam. That means a trip to an urgicenter or emergency room right away, unless an eye doctor can see you immediately. If the symptoms are severe, don't wait an hour - go straight to an emergency room after irrigating. After irrigating, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use webPOISONCONTROL to get specific recommendations online.	It's important that you rinse the exposed skin immediately. Remove contaminated clothing first (that's clothing with a spill). Every second matters. Don't delay. Use lots of room temperature running water and rinse for at least 15 minutes. For large spills, adults and older children may find it easiest to hop in the shower. Mild hand soap can be used to remove material that sticks to the skin. Important: Rinse for at least 15 minutes. After the 15 minute rinse, call Poison Control for additional guidance. If blistering, large or deep burns, pain, redness, or swelling worsen or persist, you will need to see a doctor right away. But first call the poison specialists at Poison Control to see whether a trip to an urgicenter or emergency room is urgent or necessary. If the symptoms are severe, go straight to an emergency room after rinsing. Don't wait. After irrigating, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use webPOISONCONTROL to get specific recommendations online.	It's important that you move to fresh air immediately. Stay away from all toxic fumes and gases. Thoroughly ventilate the involved area. After moving to fresh air, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use webPOISONCONTROL to get specific recommendations online.

First Aid for Poisonings

SWALLOWED Poisons

Poisons in the EYE, on the SKIN, or INHALED:

Poisoned? Get Expert Help.

Don't Use Ipecac!

Text POISON to 202-677-7600

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