RECOGNIZING THE EFFECTS OF DRUG POISONING
ROUTE OF ENTRY INTO POISON
BODY
SWALLOWED (INGESTED) -drugs and alcohol
-cleaning products
-DIY and gardening
products
- plant poisons
-bacterial food poisons
-viral food poisons
ABSORBED THROUGH THE Common absorbed
SKIN poisons are cleaning
products and poisonous
plants (such as poison ivy,
poison oak, giant hogweed
and wild parsnip)
INHALED Common inhaled poisons
include carbon monoxide
from smoke or engine
exhaust, natural gas,
solvent fumes, and
chemical vapors.
SPLASHED IN THE EYE Common acids causing eye
burns include sulfuric acid,
sulfurous acid,
POSSIBLE EFFECTS ACTION/S
-nausea and vomiting -monitor casualty
-abdominal pain - call emergency help
-seizures Commence CPR if necessary
-irregular, or fast or slow -use a face mask to protect yourself if you need to give rescue
-heartbeat breaths.
-impaired level of
response
Redness Protect yourself: put on gloves
Access help: EMS or poison control
Blisters Refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), if the poison is a chemical
Burns If the poison is a powder, brush it off the skin
Itchy skin Flush the affected area with cool, running water for 15 minutes
Rash or hives or until EMS personnel arrive
Difficulty breathing Open windows and doors, and turn on the fans in the room if
Irritated eyes/nose/throat possible to ventilate the area.
Chest pain Leave the area and go outside to get fresh air.
There may be some symptoms that are not treated from fresh
air alone. If you or someone else continues to experience:
Coughing or chest congestion after fresh air, additional
treatment may be needed. The poison center can assist with
further advice.
Throat irritation, drink a glass of cold water or milk.
Eye irritation, flush your eyes with lukewarm water for 5-10
minutes.
stinging Flush your eye with water. Use clean, lukewarm tap water for
a burning sensation at least 20 minutes. Use whichever of these approaches is
redness quickest:
 hydrochloric acid, nitric pain Get into the shower and aim a gentle stream of water on your
acid, acetic acid, chromic swelling of the eyelids forehead over your affected eye. Or direct the stream on the
acid, and hydrofluoric blurry vision bridge of your nose if both eyes are affected. Hold the lids of
acid. Substances you have watery eyes. your affected eye or eyes open.
at home that may contain Put your head down and turn it to the side. Then hold the lids
these chemicals include of your affected eye open under a gently running faucet. If you
glass polish (hydrofluoric have access to a work site eye-rinse station, use it.
acid), vinegar, or nail Young children may do best if they lie down in the bathtub or
polish remover (acetic lean back over a sink. Pour a gentle stream of water on the
acid). forehead over the affected eye or on the bridge of the nose to
flush both eyes.
Wash your hands with soap and water. Thoroughly rinse your
hands to be sure no chemical or soap is left on them.
Remove contact lenses. If they don't come out during the flush,
then take them out.

INJECTED THROUGH THE Injected poisons can enter Nausea and/or vomiting.
SKIN the body through a bug or Diarrhea.
a needle. Common Rash.
injected poisons are bee Redness or sores around
stings and opioids. the mouth.
Dry mouth.
Drooling or foaming at the
mouth.
Trouble breathing.
Dilated pupils (bigger than
normal) or constricted
pupils (smaller than
normal)
-EMS or Poison Control
-Wash the puncture site
-Keep the person still
-Firmly bandage the site of the wound and keep the person
still.
-Don’t use tourniquets, cut the puncture site or try to suck out
the venom.
-ticks, don’t try to kill the tick before removal as this may cause
it to inject more poison.
-Always seek medical advice as quickly as you can.