HPR 010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Paracetamol, Abdominal Pain, Respiratory Center
12 Jun 2018
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Chapter 18: Poisoning
Poison
What is a poison?
- Anything that can harm someone if it is used in the wrong way, used by the wrong person, or
used in the wrong amount
- A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by bacteria, animals, or plants that acts by
changing the normal metabolism of cells or by destroying them.
- Poisons can be classified by how they enter the body:
o Ingested → swallowed
o Inhaled → breathed through the lungs
o Injected → through needlelike devices
o Absorbed → direct contact through the skin or eyes
- Come in four forms: solids, liquids, sprays, and gases
Ingested (Swallowed) Poisons
- Ingested poisoning occurs when the person swallows a toxic substance.
- Most poisons have little toxic effect or are ingested in such small amounts that severe
poisoning rarely occurs
- Analgesics (pain meds) account for the largest category of poisoning exposures.
o Contain acetaminophen, which is involved in poisoning incidents more often than
other analgesics are, not b/c acetaminophen is more toxic but b/c products that
contain acetaminophen outsell products that contain other analgesics.
- What to Look For: abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, burns, odor or stains around the
mouth, drowsiness or unconsciousness, seizure, poison container nearby
- What to Do:
o Try to deterie perso’s age ad weight, perso’s oditio, what poiso was
swallowed, when the poison was taken, how much was taken
o Call the poison help hotline
o Place person on left side to delay poison movement
o Monitor breathing, if it stops, give CPR.
- DO NOT
o Gag or tickle the throat, does not cause vomiting
o Give syrup of ipecac
o Neutralize a poison with weak acids like lemon juice or vinegar
o Give water or milk to dilute poisons
Alcohol Emergencies
- Alohol is a depressat, ot a stiulator. It affets a perso’s judgment, vision, reaction time,
and coordination. It can cause death by paralyzing the respiratory center of the brain.
- Helping an intoxicated person is often difficult b/c the person could be belligerent and
combative.
- What to Look For: odor of alcohol o a perso’s reath, slurred speech, unsteady walking,
flushed face, nausea and vomiting, seizures
- What to Do:
o Look for injuries b/c alcohol can mask pain
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