About this topic
Swallowing a chemical by mouth by can be dangerous. Exposure to a chemical or poison by swallowing it can be life threatening and cause serious problems to your health. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- There may be orders that are specific to the chemical that you have ingested. Follow all your doctors directions.
- Prevent this from happening again. Protect yourself and your family from chemicals you have in your home.
What follow-up care is needed?
- The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you took the chemical to harm yourself, the doctor may send you to to a mental health expert or psychiatrist. Be sure to keep these visits.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Treat the poisoning
- Remove the chemical faster
- Help the bowels move easily
- Help with any damage the chemical has caused in the body
Will physical activity be limited?
Most often, physical activity will not be limited. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
Changes to the diet are not usually needed. Follow the doctors orders. ‚
What problems could happen?
Serious injury can happen. Sometimes, you will not get better from the injuries. ‚
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Use basic safety measures.
- Childproof your home.
- Put locks on cupboards.
- Always read the label on a container before drinking it.
- Never take drugs in the dark. Turn on a light to read the label. This way you will know you are taking the right one.
- Keep cleaning products, lawn and garden chemicals, and drugs and vitamins out of reach of children and pets.
- Store chemicals safely.
- Clearly label chemicals as poisons.
- Keep chemicals that may be poisonous in their original containers. Do not mix or store them in drinking containers.
- Do not store food and chemicals in the same place.
- Avoid using food or drink containers, like soda bottles, as chemical containers.
- When cleaning, avoid leaving products you are using out. When you leave your cleaning to do something else, do not leave the bottles lying around, even if they have caps on them.
- Throw away old or outdated household or chemical products. Do not keep old products that you are no longer using.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling dizzy or like you are going to pass out
- Not able to cope with life
- Not able to care for yourself
Helpful tips
- Keep the Poison Control phone number by the phone or in a place you see often.
- Call the Poison Control Center for help if a chemical is taken by mouth, breathed in, or spilled on your skin.
- If you eat or drink a chemical by accident, do not try and throw up or drink other liquids. Call your local Poison Control Center.
- Remove any clothing with vomit on it to prevent contact with the skin. Wash the skin well with water.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you about basic safety measures and how to store chemicals safely.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have trouble breathing, feel dizzy, or am not able to cope with life or care for myself.
Where can I learn more?
American Association of Poison Control Centers ‚
http://www.aapcc.org/prevention/adults/ ‚
http://www.aapcc.org/prevention/children/ ‚
http://www.aapcc.org/prevention/home/ ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/safety_poisoning.html#cat150 ‚
Safe Kids ‚
http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-resources-by-risk-area/poison/ ‚
World Health Organization ‚
http://www.who.int/gho/phe/chemical_safety/poisons_centres/en/index.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚