POISON CONTROL

First Aid:
Poison – is any substance which is solid, liquid or 1. Remove the clothing
gas that tends to impair health or causes 2. Then with a dry cloth, blot the poison
death when introduced into the body or onto the from the skin. If the poison is a dry
skin surface. powder, brush it off.
3. Wash with enough amount of water
Causes: 4. Monitor vital signs
-Common in suicide attempts
-Occasional accidental poisoning D. Injected poison – bite, sting or syringe
1. Insect bites:
Common Household poisons: Signs and Symptoms:
-Sleeping pills -Stinger
-Insecticide/pesticide -Pain
-Kerosene -Swelling
-Strong acids/Detergents -Possible allergic reaction
-Poisonous plants
-Contaminated food/water First Aid:
-fume 1. Remove stinger
2. Wash wound
Ways in which poisoning may occur: 3. Cover wound
a. Ingested poisoning – by mouth 4. Apply cold pack
b. Inhaled poisoning – by breathing 5. Watch for signs of allergic reaction
c. Ingested poisoning – by animal bites, stings and
syringes 2. Spider bite / Scorpion sting
d. Absorbed poisoning – by skin contact Signs and Symptoms:
-Bite mark
A. Ingested poisoning – introduced into the -Swelling
digestive tract by way of the mouth -Pain
Suspect food poisoning if: -Nausea and vomiting
-ate food that did not taste right, spoiled, -Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
improperly prepared, contaminated, left at
room temperature for a long time. First Aid:
-several people who ate together become ill 1. Wash wound
2. Apply cold pack
B. Inhaled poisoning 3. Get medical care to receive
Signs and Symptoms: antivenum
-History of inhaling poisons 4. Call local 911
-Breathing difficulty
-Chest pain 3. Snake bites
-Cough, hoarseness, burning sensation in the Signs and Symptoms:
throat -Bite mark
-Cyanosis -pain
-Dizziness, headache
-Seizures, unresponsiveness First Aid:
1. Wash wound
First Aid: 2. Keep bitten part still and lower
1. Remove the victim from the toxic than the heart
environment and expose to fresh air 3. Call local 911
immediately.
2. Monitor ABCs. – Airways, Breathing, Human and Animal Bites
Circulation Signs and Symptoms:
3. Seek medical attention. -Bite mark
-Bleeding
C. Absorbed poison – is a poison that enters
the body through the skin First Aid:
Signs and Symptoms: 1. If bleeding is minor – wash wound
-history of exposures 2. Control bleeding
-liquid or powder on the skin 3. Apply antibiotic ointment
-burns 4. Cover the wound
-itching, irritation 5. Get medical attention
-redness, rash, blisters 6. Call local 911.
 COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SNAKE

Venomous Non-venomous
HEAD Semi-triangular Oblongated
BODY Rectangular Circular
SKIN Rough Smooth
PUPIL Vertical Round
ATTACK Non-constrictor Constrictor
BITE MARKS Fang marks Horseshoe marks

General care for poisoning: 5. Superficial blood vessels are dilated

1. Survey the scene
2. Remove the victim from the source of
poison
3. Do a primary survey
4. Care for any life threatening condition
5. If the victim is conscious, do a secondary
survey
6. Do not give the victim anything by
mouth unless advised by medical
professionals
Poison Control Centers – provide information
on toxins, management of poisoning victims
and antidotes
Contact: 454-1078 / 5218450 loc. 2311
or 117
Classification of Drugs:
1. Alcohol
2. Narcotics
3. Cannabis Sativa (marijuana)
4. Depressants
5. Inhalants
6. Stimulants
7. Hallucinogens
8. Tranquilizers
Alcohol – refers to alcoholic beverages
- Most common abused brand,
“whiskey”, followed by “beer”
Alcoholism – disease/disorder of behavior
characterized by repeated drinking of alcoholic
beverages
Alcoholic – person who indulges in heavy
uncontrolled drinking to the detriment of the
person’s health and personality.
Effects of Alcohol use:
1. Relaxation and loss of inhibitions
2. A sense of excitement
3. Disrupted motor activity, motor skills and
coordination
4. Disturbance in bodily processes
causing warm feeling
6. Deep intoxication can lead to coma and
death
7. Consciousness begins to wane causing
mental dullness
8. Loss of self-control resulting in violent
behavior
FIRST AID TREATMENT
Alcohol intoxication can be treated as follows:
1. No need for FIRST AID TREATMENT:
- Sleeping quietly, normal color of the
face, normal breathing, regular
heartbeat
MEDICAL HELP NEEDED
- Signs of shock – cold and clammy
skin
- Rapid and irregular pulse
- Abnormal breathing
- Unconscious
Always maintain an open airway
- Artificial respiration if necessary
- Maintain normal body heat
4. Be careful – they may become violent
and harm others
CANNABIS SATIVE (MARIJUANA)
-is an annual plant that grows wild in many
temperate parts of the world
-consists of crushed cannabis leaves and its
flowers
Effects of Marijuana:
1. Throat irritation and coughing
2. Increased heart beat and pulse rate
3. Reddening of the eyes, dizziness,
incoordination
4. Sleepiness and decreased physical
activity
5. Can cause chronic bronchitis and asthma
Psychological Effects:
 1. Feeling of excitement
2. Distortion of time and space perception
3. Disturbance to brainwave activity
causing impairment of skills leading to
abnormal behavior
STIMULANTS (UPPERS)
Kinds of Stimulants:
1. Amphetamines – marketed as inhalers,
injectables and tablets
- “ice” smokable form – seizures and
paranoia
2. Cocaine – most potent – cocaine
hydrochloride
-white crystalline powder (sniff or
snort)
-“street” or “rocks” – larger pieces
-“freebase” – purified, injected or
smoked
EFFECTS OF STIMULANTS:
1. Relieve fatigue and gives feeling of well-
being
2. Increase heart, breathing rates, and
raise BP
3. Feeling of being stronger and more
decisive
4. Extended wakefulness and increased
mental alertness
5. May induce irritability, anxiety and fear
6. Loss of appetite, decreased body weight
7. Pregnant women – mental retardation to
unborn babies
8. Loss of sexual desire, lacks interest in
work
9. “Schizophrenia” or split personality
10.Chronic user – memory loss
11.Chronic snorters – nose bleeding
12.Dirty needles – hepatitis B, blood
poisoning and AIDS
13.High doses can cause hyperactivity,
combative behavior, stroke, collapse and
death
14.Long term users – psychotic symptoms
(loss touch with reality)
15.Frequent large doses – brain damage
ABUSE OF STIMULANTS:
-inhalation, sniffing, snorting, or injection
-abusers need a higher dosage to get “high”
-tolerance and physical dependence usually set
in after a few weeks
-withdrawal symptoms are depression and
excessive period of sleep
-depression can lead to suicide
STIMULANTS: FIRST AID
-coco paste – crude product; kerosene
“Shabu” or methamphetamine HCl
-most abused stimulant in the
Philippines
-“poor man’s cocaine, ubas, S,
siopao, sha & ice”
-white, odorless crystal or crystalline
powder with bitter taste
-injected or inhaled
“Ecstasy” (MDMA) – 3, 4
methylenedioxymethamphetamine
-synthetic amphetamine
-street names- x, Rave, Love drug,
LBD, libido, XTC, E, Eckie, Love Dove
-oral ingestion
1. Try to protect the victim from injuring or
harming himself and others
2. Keep an open airway and give artificial
respiration, when needed
3. Maintain normal body temperature
4. Seek medical and psychiatric help
DEPRESSANTS (DOWNERS)
-Drugs that slow down the body’s function
-Small amounts promote: calmness and
relaxation
-large amounts can cause confusion, delusions,
loss of coordination, collapse, coma and death
-barbiturates, sedatives and tranquilizers
Barbiturates – most frequent prescribed
- Induce sleep and sedation
- Large doses can cause sleep after
20-60mins.
- Overdose may progress in stages
of sedation, sleep and coma to death
- Combination with alcohol is lethal
even in small amounts
First aid:
1. Keep an open airway, give artificial
respiration if needed.
2. Maintain normal body temperature
3. Take victim to the nearest
doctor/hospital.
INHALANTS
-are volatile substances derived from ether or
chloroform
-“glue-sniffing” “sudden sniffing death”
a. quick-drying glue or plastic cement
like “rugby”
b. Pain remover & lacquer, “thinner” and
“solvent”
 c. Gasoline and gasoline based products - a person touches an infected person’s
d. Kerosene “gaas” body fluids
e. Nail polish and cuticle remover
f. Lighter fluid 2. Indirect contact transmission
- a person touches objects
EFFECTS OF INHALANTS: contaminated by the blood or body
1. Unsteadiness and restlessness fluid of an infected person (soiled
2. Drunkenness with depression leading dressings, equipment and vehicle
to unconsciousness surfaces)
3. Irritability and highly agitated
condition
4. Initial excitement thereby losing
conditional control Airborne Transmission
5. Irritation of the throat and nasal - a person inhales infected droplets
passages that have become airborne as an
FIRST AID infected person coughs or sneezes
1. If a person has a paper or plastic bag
covering his entire head, remove it 4. Vector Transmission
immediately - occurs when an animal such as a dog
2. When breathing stops, give the victim or insect such as ticks transmits a
artificial respiration pathogen through a bite
3. Get medical assistance as quickly as
possible BASIC PRECAUTIONS AND PRACTICES:
1. Personal Hygiene
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES: 2. Protective Equipment
Mode of Transmission: 3. Equipment cleaning and disinfecting
1. Direct contact transmission

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
DISEASE SIGNS AND MODE OF INFECTIOUS
SYMPTOMS TRANSMISSION MATERIAL
HIV – virus that Fever, night sweats, Direct and indirect Blood, semen, vaginal
destroys the body’s weight loss, chronic contact fluid
ability to fight infection diarrhea, severe
of which the resultant is fatigue, shortness of
– AIDS breath, swollen lymph
nodes, lesions
HERPES – viral Lesions, general ill Direct contact Broken skin, mucous
infection, vesicular feeling, sore throat membranes
eruptions of the skin
and mucous
membranes
MENINGITIS – Respiratory illness, sore Airborne, direct and Food and water,
inflammation of the throat, nausea, indirect contact mucous
brain or spinal cord vomiting
caused by viral /
bacterial infection
TB – respiratory Weight loss, night Airborne Saliva, airborne
disease caused by sweats, occasional droplets
bacteria fever, general ill feeling

CHILD PROOFING
1. Do not leave infants/young children unattended.
2. Use a safety strap to fasten a child in a high chair
3. Do not let children play on curves or behind parked cars
4. Check child inside the crib often
5. Lack and secure crib sidenails
 6. Keep one hand on a child lying on a crib, on a scale, or on a table if you must look away
7. Place safety plugs on electrical outlets
8. Keep cords and electrical equipment out of the reach of children
9. Keep childproof caps on medicine container and household cleaner, store them in locked storage areas
10. Keep bathroom doors closed. Keep buckets empty and upside down
11. Do not prop baby bottles on a rolled towel or blanket
12. Keep plastic bags and wraps away from children
13. Use guardrails at the top and bottom of stairs to prevent small children from climbing up and down stairs

FALLS
-common safety problems in health care facilities
-high risk with age
-most falls are in ages 65-85
-evening
-major cause of fall—need to urinate

FACTORS INCREASING THE 4. Disorientation – strange 8. Decrease BP

RISKS OF FALLS surroundings 9. Problems with balance
1. History of falls 5. Decrease mobility 10. Poor judgment
2. Poor vision 6. Joint pain and stiffness 11. Memory problems
3. Confusion 7. Muscle weakness 12. Medications – side effects

SAFETY MEASURES TO PREVENT FALLS AND OTHER HOME ACCIDENTS FOR THE ELDERLY
1. Good lighting in rooms, hallways and bathrooms
2. Light switches within easy reach and to find
3. Night lights in bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms
4. Handrails on both sides of stairs and in bathrooms
5. Safety rails and grab bars in showers, tubs and next to the toilet
6. Wall-to-wall carpeting or carpeting that is tacked down
7. One colored floor coverings; avoid bold designs
8. Non-glare, non-slip floor surfaces
9. Non-skid way, uncluttered floors
10. Floor tree of spills and excess furniture
11. Furniture arrangements that allow for easy movement
12. Avoid rearranging furniture
13. Chairs with armrests
14. Telephone and lamp at the bedside
15. Non-slip surfaces or non-slip bath mats in tubs and showers
16. Non-skid shoes and slippers
17. Clothing that fits properly
18. Glass and plastic items are inspected before use
19. Electric equipment must function properly. Frayed cords and overloaded electrical outlets can cause electrical
shock that may result in death or fire

SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICATION:

1. Low BP
2. Drowsiness
3. Fainting
4. Dizziness
5. Poor muscle coordination
6. Unsteadiness
7. Frequent urination
8. Confusion and disorientation

ADDITIONAL MEASURES FOR PERSONS AT HOME OF FALLING:

1. Call-bells – answered promptly
- Within person’s reach
- Taught how to use
- Encourage to ask for help
2. Frequent checks are made on person’s with poor judgment or memory
3. Family and friends are asked to visit during busy times; during evening and night shifts
4. Companion provided
5. Bed close to the floor
6. Bed pan, urinal offered at regular times
7. Distraction techniques: TV, radio, soft music, soft lights, warm drink, back massage to calm
8. Check room after visitors left.