Environmental Emergencies

ALLERGIES
 Allergies reaction occurs when a
person’s immune system reacts to
normally harmless substances in the
environment , know as allergens or
 Over- reaction of protective
mechanisms to substances that are
normally harmless.
 Can be mild or life-threatening
 Most Common Allergies

 Insect stings, bites

 Certain food
 Medications
 Pollen, plants, or flowers
 Dust and fibers
 Chemicals
 Allergic reaction: signs & symptoms

 sneezing
 itchy, runny nose  irritating, persistent cough
 itchy, tingling, or burning flushing of the skin
 swelling of face, neck, hands, feet and / or
tongue
 tightness in chest or throat
 Allergic reaction: signs & symptoms

 skin hives
 hoarseness
 wheezing; asthma
 rapid, labored, noisy breathing
fast pulse
 shock  pale skin, dizziness
loss of consciousness
 What to do for allergic reaction
 Remove the potential source of the allergic reaction
 Assist the person in taking anti-allergy medications
 Call for emergency medical assistance, especially if
•medications do not give relief
•breathing is difficult
•widespread rash
•chest tightness
•patient collapses or loses consciousness
 Have the patient rest calmly
 Assess CABs, treat correspondingly
 Provide fresh air
 Help patient lie down
 Loosen tight clothing
ANIMAL BITES AND STINGS
Whether you’re in the water, on mountain
trail, or in your backyard, wildlife you
encounter have ways of protecting
themselves and their territory.
 Most bites and stings trigger nothing
more than minor discomfort, but some
encounters can be deadly, especially if
you have severe allergies to the insect
venom.
 Prevention is the best medicine , so
knowing how to recognize and avoid biting
and stinging animals or insects is the best
way to stay safe.
 Insect bites and stings
 cause pain, swelling,
allergic reaction

 can lead to serious

illness or death
 Insect bites / stings: signs & symptoms
 stinger present

 pain

 swelling

 itchiness

 rash

 redness

 hives or wheal

 allergic reaction
 Insect bites / stings: what to do
 Remove stinger by gently
scraping the skin

 DO NOT pinch the stinger

 Wash wound with soap and

water

 Cover the wound

 Apply cold compress

 Watch for signs of allergic

 Spider bite; scorpion sting

 cause pain, swelling,

allergic reaction, infection

 can cause paralysis

and death
 Spider bite; scorpion sting
 bite mark or sting present

 pain

 swelling

 desire to vomit, with or

without actual vomiting

 difficulty breathing or
swallowing
 Spider bite; scorpion sting
 Wash wound with soap and
water

 Antiseptic may used

 Apply cold compress

 Bring victim to hospital /

poison control center
immediately
 Marine life stings

 marine animals
attack only when
provoked (angry)
 very painful wounds
 may cause severe
allergic reaction
 Marine life stings: signs & symptoms
 strong, sharp, stinging, radiating pain(affects the
nerves of your body)
 skin redness, rash, blisters
 bleeding (stingray sting)
 burn
 itching, skin irritation
 desire to vomit, actual vomiting, numbness,
muscle spasm, lymph node( a small bean-shaped
structure that is part of the body’s immune system)
swelling, low blood pressure, headache
 severe reactions  paralysis, coma, death
 Jellyfish stings: what to do
 Remove victim’s clothing
 Rinse affected area in vinegar
for 15-20 minutes
 DO NOT use fresh water, ice
or hot water
 DO NOT rub the area
 Remove, but DO NOT touch
the tentacles
 Give oral pain relievers
 Monitor victim’s condition
 Bring victim to hospital
 Stingray / sea urchin stings: what to do

 Irrigate / immerse affected

area with hot water for at least
20 minutes
 Wash wound with soap and
water
 Cover the wound
 Bring victim to hospital or
poison control center
immediately
 SNAKE BITES
 Snake bites is an injury caused by a
poisonous snake. Venom is a poison
injected into the victim’s body through a
bite of a snake.
 The two types of snakes are generally
categorized as,
 a) poisonous or venomous
 b) non-poisonous or non venomous
So this two types of snakes has been
characterized :
 Snakebite: venomous vs. non-venomous

Poisonous
Non-venomous
Example cobra python
Movement cortina, side-winding semi-cortina, curving
Shape of semi-triangular oblong
head
Body girth Rectangular circular
Skin rough smooth
Shape of vertical, slit-like round
pupil
Manner of non-constrictor constrictor
attack
Bite mark fang marks: U-shaped row
2 punctures
 Preventive Measures
 Handle freshly killed venomous snakes only
with a long tool or stick. Snake can inflict
fatal bites by reflex action even after death.
 Wear heavy boots and clothing for
protection from snakes bites specially in a
thick forest or grassy area.
 Eliminate condition under which snakes
thrive: brush, piles of trash rocks or logs
and dense undergrowth. Controlling their
foods as much as possible is also a good
prevention
 Snakebite: what to do
 Clean the area of the bite with soap
and water
 Apply pressure bandage and splint
 Make the victim lie down quietly and
comfortably
 Keep victim calm; do not allow
unnecessary movements
 Bring victim to hospital / animal bite
center immediately
 Snakebite: what NOT to do

 DO NOT suck the wound to remove the venom

 DO NOT apply a tourniquet

 DO NOT apply a cold compress

 DO NOT incise the bitten area

 DOG BITES

 Dog bites is an injury caused by a dog .

 This type of injury becomes fatal if the
dog that bit the victim is infected with
the rabies virus.
 Land animal bites

 cause direct damage to

skin and soft tissues
 cause infections
• tetanus
• rabies
• various fevers
 Land animal bites: what to do

Wash bitten area with
soap and water for 30
minutes; DO NOT scrub
 Control bleeding
 Cover wound with sterile
or clean dressing
 Bring victim to hospital /
animal bite center
immediately
 POISONING

 POISONING refers to any solid, liquid, or

gas substance that tends to impair health
or cause death when introduced into the
body or into the skin. or
 refers to any substance that cause illness
or death when it enters the body or comes
in contact with the surface of the skin.
 A poisoning emergency can be life
threatening
 How do poisons enter the body?

inhaled
inhaledd

ted absorbed
es
ing
 CAUSES OF POISONED
 Common in suicide attempts
 Occasional accidental poisoning

COMMON HOUSEHOLD POISON

 Sleeping pills
 Pain relievers
 Insect and rodent poisons
 Kerosene
 Denatured Alcohol
 Lye and acid including boric
 Poison plant
 Contaminated water
 Fumes
 WAYS IN WHICH POISONING MAY OCCUR

a) INHALED POISON( Breathed in) is a poison breathed

into the lungs.
 breathed into the body
 smoke, fumes from chemicals
 carbon monoxide
Inhaled poisons: signs & symptoms
 difficulty of breathing
 chest pain
 cough
 hoarseness
 burning sensation in throat
 bluish discoloration of skin, lips, walls of
mouth
 dizziness
 headache
 seizures
 unresponsiveness
 Inhaled poisons: what to do

 Immediately remove victim from toxic

environment
 Keep airway open; make sure victim is
breathing fresh air
 Take victim to hospital
b) INGESTED POISON is one that is introduced into
digestive tract by way of the mouth.
 One form of ingestion poisoning is food poisoning ,
a general form that covers a variety of condition.
 SUSPECT FOOD POISONING if:
 The victim ate food that “ didn’t taste right “ or that
may have been old, improperly prepared,
contaminated, left at room temperature for a long
time, or processed with an excessive amount of
chemicals.
 Several people who ate together become ill.
 Causes Ingested poisons

 Overdose of alcohol
 Overdose of medicines
 Insecticides, pesticides
 Kerosene
 Denatured alcohol
 Acids
 Toxins from poisonous plants
 Contaminated food or water
 Ingested poisons: signs & symptoms

 abdominal pain, cramping

 desire to vomit; actual vomiting
 diarrhea
 burns, odors, stains around and in victim’s
mouth
 drowsiness; loss of consciousness
 container of poison near victim
 Ingested poisons: what to do

 Know the following information

•WHO is the victim? age? size / weight?
•WHAT was swallowed? HOW much?
•HOW did it happen?
•WHEN did it happen?
 If responsive: observe
 If unresponsive: check airway & breathing; place in
side-lying position
 DO NOT make victim vomit
 DO NOT give anything by mouth
 Save poison container, plants, material vomited
 Contact poison control center
 Bring victim to hospital
c) ABSORBED POISON is a poison that enters the body
through the skin or
 enter the body by passing through unbroken skin.

 COMMON CAUSES:
 household cleaning fluids
 agricultural chemicals, pesticides
 industrial products
 creams, ointments
 secretions of poisonous plants
 Absorbed poisons: signs & symptoms

 skin redness, rash, or blisters

 hot, dry skin, lips
 burns
 itching, skin irritation
 liquid or powder on skin
 blurring of vision
 dizziness
 headache
 seizures
 unresponsiveness
 Absorbed poisons: what to do

 Remove victim’s clothing

 DO NOT wipe the poison to remove it
•liquid: blot it off victim’s skin
•powder: brush it off victim’s skin
 Wash exposed area with running water; ask
victim to bathe
 Monitor the victim’s condition
 Bring victim to the hospital
d) INJECTED POISON is a poison that enters the
body through a bite , sting or syringe.

For expert advice

on any poisoning situation
24/7

National Poison Control Center

(02) 524-1078