Where There Is No Doctor 2011 103
POISONING
Many children die from swallowing things that are poisonous. To protect your
children, take the following precautions:
Keep all poisons out of
reach of children.
Never keep kerosene, gasoline, or
other poisons in cola or soft drink
bottles, because children
may try to drink them.
SOME COMMON POISONS TO WATCH OUT FOR:
• rat poison
• DDT, lindane, sheep dip, and other
insecticides or plant poisons
• medicine (any kind when much is
swallowed; take special care
with iron pills)
• tincture of iodine
• bleach
• cigarettes
• rubbing or wood alcohol
• poisonous leaves, seeds,
berries, or mushrooms
• castor beans
• matches
• kerosene, paint thinner,
gasoline, petrol, lighter fluid
• lye or caustic soda
• salt—if too much is given to
babies and small children
• spoiled food (see p. 135)
Treatment:
If you suspect poisoning, do the following immediately:
♦ If the child is unconscious, lay him on his side. If he stops breathing, give him
mouth-to-mouth breathing (p. 80).
♦ If the child is awake and alert, give him plenty of water or milk to drink to dilute
the poison (about 1 glass of water every 15 minutes).
♦ CAUTION: Do not make a person vomit if he has swallowed kerosene,
gasoline (petrol), bleach, paint thinner, or strong acids or corrosive substances
(lye), or if he is unconscious.
♦ If the child is awake and alert and you are sure vomiting is safe, make him vomit.
Put your finger in his throat or make him drink very salty water.
♦ If you have it, give him half a cup of activated charcoal (p. 388), or a
tablespoon of powdered charcoal mixed into a glass of warm water.
Cover the person if he feels cold, but avoid too much heat. If poisoning is severe,
look for medical help.