Poisoning

There are enough poisonous substances around the average household to kill a small army - or at least make it very sick - and a good number of them are to be found in the kitchen.

Think of a poison as any substance which enters the body causing illness or injury and you will quickly see that even harmless items taken in quantity can prove to be poisonous.

Some are toxic in any quantity - household bleach is an obvious example.

The important thing is to know how poisoning can occur and what to do if it does.

Toxic substances can enter the body either through swallowing, injection, absorption through the skin and mucous membranes or inhalation (breathing in). Let's look at some examples:

Swallowing

· cleaners and disinfectants
· aspirin or other drugs
· contaminated food
· poisonous plants e.g. mushrooms
· alcohol

Injection

· insect stings and bites
· animal bites and scratches
· snakes
· hypodermic needles or other sharp objects

Absorption

· some plants such as poison ivy
· fertilizers
· pesticides
· other chemicals

Inhalation

· exhaust gas from vehicles
· domestic gas supply
· barbecue fumes

Remember, these are examples only and by no means a complete list.

In the kitchen

We're going to look at problems likely to be found specifically in the kitchen. There are three things you need to do starting right now.

1. Identify all potential chemical poisons in your kitchen and ensure they are kept in a safe place, away from children and pets.

2. Make a written list and under each item copy the notes on the label about what to do if poisoning occurs. This is very important as you will see later. Keep this list handy.

3. Make sure you know the telephone number of your local poisons Information center and keep it by the phone.

What to look for

The most important thing is to recognize straight away that the victim may have been poisoned and to immediately call for assistance.

Suspect poisoning if confronted by any or all of the following symptoms:

· the victim suddenly becomes - and looks - ill
· difficulty breathing
· nausea
· vomiting and/or diarrhea
· sweating
· victim appears dazed, drowsy or becomes unconscious
· spasms or seizures

You may also notice burns on the skin or around the mouth and in particular the lips and tongue.

It's vital to get as much information as possible from the victim regarding what happened while they are still conscious, so your first step is to look for evidence of the poison and ask questions.

Usually the cause will be apparent immediately, but be aware that poisoning from fumes is not always obvious and the toxic gases may still be present. Don't become a victim yourself.

Swallowed poison

Think of swallowed poisons as coming in two categories. These are corrosive poisons and non-corrosive poisons.

It’s very important that you understand the difference between the two, because they are treated in very different ways.

You may have read that in the case of poisoning you should induce vomiting in the victim. Unfortunately, in the case of corrosive poisons, this would do more harm than good.

The reason is very simple; what burns on the way down will also burn on the way up again.

In fact, you should make it a general rule never to induce vomiting unless you are instructed to do so by your poisons information center or other professional adviser.

If you know that the victim has swallowed a corrosive poison, such as kerosene, give small amounts of milk or water to drink, which will decrease the potential for tissue damage.

At the same time, you must get professional help.

Inhaled poisons

The gas you are most likely to encounter in the kitchen is carbon monoxide. It’s produced by defective cooking equipment and fires. It is, for example, the main gas given off by your barbecue, which is why you should never use it in a confined space.

Carbon monoxide is completely odor free and since you can’t see it either, you will appreciate just how dangerous it can be.

The first symptom you are likely to be aware of is drowsiness. There may also be a pale or bluish skin color which indicates oxygen starvation.

Caught early enough, treatment is very simple. Move the victim into the fresh air, ventilate the affected area and turn off all appliances.

If the victim is unconscious, however, you must still try to get them into fresh air, but you must also call the emergency services as a matter of urgency.

It’s important to understand that CO remains in the body for quite some time after exposure. It’s dangerous because it inhibits oxygen from entering the bloodstream, which can lead to both brain damage and, eventually, death.

Absorbed poisons

Coming into contact with poisonous substances which can enter the body through the skin is an almost everyday occurrence in the kitchen.

Most of the time, of course, the quantities are so small that our skin is able to protect us from them, or we very sensibly wear rubber gloves.

Just occasionally, however, and particularly in the case of children, substances such as bleach or garden chemicals can affect us in greater quantities. In these cases there are important procedures to follow.

The first thing to do is to remove the chemical from the skin and for this we use water. Lots of it.

Some chemicals, such as dishwasher crystals, are made more toxic by contact with water. But as long as running water is used even these will be flushed from the skin before they can do too much damage.

Once again, do not apply any creams or ointments to the affected area until you have received professional advice.

Why not? Because adding one chemical to another without knowing the composition of either is just asking for trouble. Do not assume that a substance is safe simply because you bought it at a chemist.

Just remember that two apparently harmless substances have been mixed together on many occasions to produce any number of terrorist bombs. Treat all chemicals with respect and always call your poisons information center for treatment advice.

If chemicals of any kind are splashed into the eyes you must immediately flush with running water and keep on doing so for at least 15 minutes.

Even after this time it’s important to both monitor the victim and get professional help. Do not assume that because pain is absent the chemical reaction has ceased. Some chemicals have a numbing effect.

Injected poisons

If you are unlucky enough to get bitten by something venomous in your kitchen, or anywhere else for that matter, the first thing to do is remain calm.

Here in Australia we have the world’s leading collection of poisonous snakes and spiders. Understanding what to do once they have been bitten has kept a number of our citizens alive who might otherwise have succumbed to the poison.

Remaining calm and inactive is your first and most important defense.

The second is known as the pressure immobilization technique. It’s particularly valid for people who have allergic reactions even to minor stings.

It simply means applying a firm pressure to the site, using your hand if necessary.

Next, apply a crepe roller bandage directly over the wound and bind it firmly, but not so tightly that circulation is stopped altogether.

In the case of an arm or leg, a second bandage can now be applied over the site and then working upwards to cover as much of the limb as possible.

Now immobilize the limb using a splint to reduce muscle movement. Help the victim to rest in a comfortable position. They should not either walk or stand.

Do not under any circumstances elevate the affected limb.

Call for help. It’s important to bring assistance to the victim and not the other way around.

What you are doing is slowing down the circulation of the lymphatic system. This is how venom travels through the body and not via the bloodstream as many people believe.

Therefore, do not cut the wound and do not attempt to suck out the poison. About the only thing you are likely to achieve is introducing a secondary infection which may turn out to be more dangerous that the original bite.

One final point, do not try to use the pressure immobilization technique for bites to the head or trunk, wasp and bee stings, spider bites or injuries from poisonous fish spines, unless the victim has a known allergy to the venom.

With these attacks simply help the patient to rest until medical assistance arrives. However in the case of a bee sting it is important to scrape out the sting, using your thumbnail, to prevent more poison being injected.

If you do apply a bandage, keep checking to ensure that the patient’s circulation is not being cut off completely.

Watch for discoloration of the fingers or toes, or the patient complaining of coldness or numbness. If this should occur, ease the bandage a little.

Allergic reactions

Every now and then you may come across someone who has an allergic reaction to some substance, whether it be chemicals, a bee sting or simply something they have eaten.

Severe forms are called Anaphylaxis and are as worrying for the observer as they are for the victim.

Initial symptoms usually take the form of an almost instant rash and/or sudden swelling of the affected area. Since this could be the throat (and therefore the windpipe) we need to take such an event very seriously and monitor it carefully.

Other signs include itching, complaints of dizziness or nausea, a weak feeling and breathing difficulties.

Do not assume that an allergic reaction could not have taken place simply because there has never been one before in the same circumstances. People can develop allergies to all sorts of things over a period of time and may not even be aware of the condition.

Any allergic reaction can develop into anaphylaxis so it is particularly important that any unusual reaction following contact with any substance should be monitored with care.

If at any stage the victim complains of breathing difficulty or that their throat feels as if it is closing up, call an ambulance immediately. And in any case a doctor’s advice should be sought at the earliest opportunity.

Simple tests will establish whether or not there is sensitivity to anything. In severe cases, medication or other preventative measures may be prescribed.

Food allergies are not all that uncommon, so it is probably a good idea to check if there are any foods to be avoided if you intend to cook for people you don’t know that well. Nothing poops a party faster than projectile vomiting.