Poisoning

Venom is the material that if it enters the body, it could cause damage. Toxins can enter the body accidentally or intentionally through many ways including:

1. Ingestion through the digestive system.
2. Injection into muscle or blood vessels as in the cases of snakebites, scorpion bites and drugs.
3. Inhalation through the lungs, such as vehicle exhausts or fire smokes.

(1) Poisoning through the digestive system (ingestion) is the most common type; and the children under five are the most affected by poisoning cases.

More causes of poisoning are the chemicals used at home like liquid detergents, cloth bleachers, pesticides, liquid adhesive materials and use of drugs at the wrong dose; therefore, such material must be kept away from children.

Symptoms of Poisoning:

• Abdominal pain, feel for vomiting and diarrhea.

First aid for Poisoning:

1. Maintain the air passage open.
2. Contact the relevant emergency services.
3. Try to make the patient vomit using Ipecac syrup (one large spoon on a cup of water) and half of the amount for children, avoid using your finger to make the victim vomit.
4. Keep the vomit in a clean box to be presented to the doctor, as well as packaging for toxic, if any.
5. If  the victim is unconscious, position him in the consciousness status.
6. If there is an interruption in breathing or heart, victim must be revived.

(2) Poisoning by injection in the muscle or blood vessels. 
A - Drug poisoning is a result of the misuse of certain drugs, whether accidental or deliberate. 
Symptoms: change or loss of consciousness, difficult breathing, excessive sweating and slow pulse. Victim must quickly be transferred to hospital for oxygen treatment.

B - Poisoning by injection (snakebites and scorpion bites) 

Symptoms: jink vision and dizziness, nausea, vomiting and severe sweating, muscle weakness and inability to movement, severe local pain, swelling and blue color on bite location.

First Aid:

1. Make the victim laid on the ground, ask him not to move, calm him and call an ambulance.
2. Tie above and below the place of infection of about 5 cm, taking into account not to make a very strong tie to avoid hamper blood circulation.
3. Level the location of the bite or sting lower than heart level.
4. Wipe the site location with alcohol or water and soap.
5. Try Strikethrough location of injury and suck the poison.
6. Cool the location of bite with ice to delay absorption of the venom.

C - Inhalation of toxic gases (Suffocation):

The most frequent poisoning cases inevitable especially in factories fire, industrial gases and freon.

Classification of Gases:

1. Toxic gases (carbon monoxide).
2. Asphyxiating gas (carbon dioxide).

Poisoning with gas causes:

1. Difficult breathing to the point of suffocation.
2. Affect the consciousness to the degree of coma.
3. Nausea and vomiting.

First aid required

1. Remote the victim from the site of the gas.
2. Give the patient oxygen.
3. Ensure victim's ability of breathe; conduct the redemptive ventilation if required.