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The Official Site For the Broward
County Fire Rescue Cadets
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The Few The Chosen The Elite
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Anytime, Anyplace in Florida
Florida Poison Control System
Call:
1-800-282-3171
Emergency
First Aid for Poisonings
Topics on
this page include:
In
the United States, nearly two million poisonings are reported to poison
control centers each year. Although survival rates for some types of
poisoning have improved, many people still die. Knowing what to do in
the first moments after a poisoning occurs can prevent these tragedies.
 Remove
the poison from contact with eyes, skin or mouth, or remove the victim
from contact with poisonous fumes or gases.
Do NOT
follow emergency instructions on labels. Some may be out-of-date and
carry incorrect treatment information.
Call
the Poison Control Center at 1-800-282-3171
immediately for more instructions.
If you
are instructed to go to a hospital emergency department, take the
poisonous substance or container with you.
Keep
syrup of ipecac in your home in case you are advised to use it to
make the victim vomit. Although syrup of ipecac may be bought without
a prescription at the pharmacy, NEVER
administer ipecac unless you have been advised to do so by a physician
or by Poison Center staff.
 Swallowed poisons
Call the Poison Center or your physician, even if you don't think the
ingestion is serious.
CAUTION: Some
out-of-date product antidote labels or health information charts may
carry incorrect treatment information. DO NOT give raw eggs, salt, vinegar
or citrus fruit juices to induce vomiting or to neutralize the poison.
DO NOT induce vomiting by sticking fingers or any other instrument down
the victim's throat. These procedures are not only ineffective but potentially
dangerous!
Poisons on the skin
Remove any contaminated clothing. Flood affected parts with lukewarm
water, wash with soap and water, and rinse thoroughly. Then call the
Poison Center or your physician.
Poisons in the eye
To remove all foreign materials from the eyes, the eyes must be irrigated
for a full 15 minutes timed by the clock. Remove contact lenses if worn.
For adults, getting in the shower works best. Aim a gentle stream of
lukewarm water on the forehead above the affected eye. If both eyes
are affected, aim the stream at the bridge of the nose. Eyes do not
have to be held open. Opening and closing the eyes repeatedly during
the irrigation will help carry the water to all the surfaces of the
eye.
For young children, use the sprayer hose at the kitchen sink or use
a pitcher. Aim a gentle stream of water at the bridge of the nose or
on the forehead above the affected eye. Do not pour water directly onto
the surface of the eyeball. Eyes do not need to be held open unless
the child refuses to open them at all.
Always irrigate all eye exposures for 15 full minutes. Do not apply
any eye drops unless instructed by a health care professional. Call
the Poison Center or your physician to see if more treatment is required
after the eye irrigation.
Inhaled poisons
Immediately carry or drag the affected person to fresh air. If necessary,
give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim is not breathing easily,
call 9-1-1. Evacuate the area. Remember to take along family pets, but
do not delay your own escape from the area. Open doors and windows to
improve ventilation. Then call the Poison Center or your physician.
Call: 1-800-282-3171
anytime, anyplace in Florida
Florida Poison Control System
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