Poisons: Emergency Procedures (1982)

[Music] it's tempting is brightly colored looks good is Within Reach and it's poison each year hundreds of thousands of people are poisoned several thousand die Teresa most poisonings are accidental and avoidable anyone can be poisoned when warnings on labels are not read medicines are taken in the dark products that give off fumes are used in a poorly ventilated area or instructions on medications are not followed young people are often poisoned by sniffing glue paint or cleaning fluids experimenting with drugs or Downing a full bottle of hard liquor but those most often poisoned are children under the age of five who do not have the knowledge or experience to protect themselves from harmful substances boys are poisoned twice as often as girls the most dangerous age is 1 to three when children are constantly exploring the world around them a child is curious fearless and can't read warning labels what a child sees she reaches for puts in her mouth and swallows especially just before meal time smell and taste no matter how bad will not stop her Teresa where are you growing children come into contact with many things commonly found in the home which may be poisonous some people have died from poisoning even though they did not appear to be sick right away others have died because the poison acted very quickly or because they try to treat themselves with home remedies or so-called antidotes but if you act quickly and correctly the help you give will lessen the effects of the poison you you could save a life learn to recognize signs of poisoning for example someone suddenly becomes nauseated starts to perspire becomes pale or flushed feels weak has a severe headache or troubled breathing suspect poisoning caused by drug overdose if someone is sluggish or overactive if eyes move rapidly from side to side if the pupils are dilated or constricted or if there is a radical change in Behavior suspect poisoning if a child is usually drowsy or overactive is drooling and won't swallow vomits or complains of abdominal pain has stains or irritations around the mouth has irregular or abnormal breathing if you know or even suspect that someone has been poisoned don't wait to see what effect the poison may have call a Poison Control Center emergency department or doctor immediately keep these numbers near your phone at all times don't trust your memory write down any instructions you are given do only what you've been told to do if you are instructed to give syrup of epicac to induce vomiting give one to two glassfuls of water with it vomiting should follow within 15 to 20 minutes and must be forceful to be effective if you're instructed to bring the poison victim to the hospital be sure to bring all the vomitus so that it can be examined first aid instructions printed on container labels may be wrong the most important action to take when poisons are swallowed is to dilute the substance by immediately giving a conscious victim one to two glasses of water or milk to drink do not treat poisoning in any other way get to a phone as quickly as possible to call a Poison Control Center emergency department or doctor for further instructions take suspected containers and their contents with you never try to give liquids to a very drowsy or unconscious person whom you suspect has suffered poisoning if you suspect drug overdose don't try to treat it yourself with strong coffee or by making the victim walk it off it won't work get to the emergency department quickly the victim's life depends on Expert care poisoning also can occur from venomous bites all snake bites poisonous or non-poisonous should have medical attention do not give alcohol or sedatives or any medication containing aspirin to the victim if severe symptoms occur within 15 minutes of the bite the Venom must be suctioned out apply a constricting Band 2 to 4 in above the bite the band should slow circulation but not stop it you should feel a pulse beyond the band and be able to clip one finger under it make Cuts 1/2 in Long through each Fang Mark and just through the skin suction the cuts with a suction cup if available or use your mouth for 30 minutes if you use your mouth be careful not to swallow any of the Venom rinse your mouth when finished seek medical assistance immediately poisoning also can result from contact with certain chemical compounds hey quick flush the area with water for at least 20 minutes while removing all affected clothing including underclothes and Jewelry have the victim see a doctor as soon as possible inhaled fumes may result in poisoning get the victim into fresh air but don't become a victim yourself don't inhale the fumes if he is conscious have him breathe deeply and slowly yeah if the victim is unconscious check breathing and heartbeat if you have been trained use cardiopulmonary resuscitation as in this simulation if necessary until they are restored then quickly get the victim to the emergency department but even more important you can do many things to prevent accidental poisoning when you buy household products or medicines read the warning labels they are for your protection keep all substances in their original containers if you must transfer a product to a new container be sure to label it clearly never use cups or pop bottles to store household products to a child they mean food store cleansers furniture polish and other products that may be poisonous Out Of Reach and out of sight of children and keep hazardous products away from Foods or medicines there are many lookalike containers and substances for example aspirin and some rat poison pellets look very similar rinse out containers that held household products before discarding them place them at the bottom of your trash bin where a child will not find them iron preparations and vitamin tablets can cause serious poisoning even death when taken in overdose amounts keep them off the breakfast table or anywhere children can reach them also Place aspirin and aspirin substitutes out of children's reach keep all medications under lock and key call medicines and vitamins by their proper names don't tell children that medicine is candy to get them to take it because they will the whole bottle when you aren't looking avoid taking medicine in front of children don't tell them how good medicine makes you feel they will want to try it never take or give medicine in the dark and of course take only the amount instructed by the label dispose of all old medicines and then rinse the container well place all medications and cosmetics brought into your house by guests out of the reach of children and keep all house plants out of the reach of children many plants can poison even when leaves are just nibbled or the water in which plants have been soaked is swallowed don't let a child pick at and eat cocking around window panes and remove chipped or cracked paint that may tempt a child keep children away when you use any spray insecticides or spray paint protect yourself from Haled fumes by having good ventilation and wearing a mask when necessary keep a bottle of syrup of IAC in your home when recommended by a poison control center hospital or doctor it can be used to induce vomiting and always keep the telephone numbers of your doctor the nearest emergency department and poison control center close to your phone and instruct everyone in your family to use them in case of poisoning by knowing what to do when someone is poisoned and acting quickly you could save a life [Music]