How should you respond to ingestion of a poisoning substance?

How should you respond to ingestion of a poisoning substance?

• A. Call poison control or emergency services, identify the substance, do not induce vomiting, and follow instructions.
• B. Induce vomiting immediately.
• C. Drink milk to neutralize poison.
• D. Wait and see if symptoms develop.

Answer: (A)

Ingestion of a poisonous substance should be handled by getting expert guidance right away and following instructions tailored to what was swallowed. The best approach is to call poison control or emergency services and, if possible, identify the substance (brand or container, amount, and when it was ingested) so responders can advise precisely what to do. Do not induce vomiting, because this can cause additional harm depending on the substance, such as burning the esophagus or causing aspiration into the lungs. Also avoid giving milk or trying to “neutralize” the poison, since home remedies can be ineffective or dangerous and may delay proper treatment. Symptoms may not appear immediately, so get professional help promptly rather than waiting to see what happens. If the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or you’re unsure what to do, call emergency services right away and follow their directions.

Ingestion of a poisonous substance should be handled by getting expert guidance right away and following instructions tailored to what was swallowed. The best approach is to call poison control or emergency services and, if possible, identify the substance (brand or container, amount, and when it was ingested) so responders can advise precisely what to do. Do not induce vomiting, because this can cause additional harm depending on the substance, such as burning the esophagus or causing aspiration into the lungs. Also avoid giving milk or trying to “neutralize” the poison, since home remedies can be ineffective or dangerous and may delay proper treatment. Symptoms may not appear immediately, so get professional help promptly rather than waiting to see what happens. If the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or you’re unsure what to do, call emergency services right away and follow their directions.