The first and most important step for giving first aid for poisoning is to identify what poison has been ingested or otherwise incurred and how the poison entered the body. This may be difficult, and time will be a factor in some cases, so if you cannot identify the poison, call poison control immediately to seek advice. You will more than likely be advised to get the poisoned person to a doctor or hospital as soon as possible. If you can identify the poison, call poison control immediately to find out the best first aid for poisoning in that specific instance.
Different poisons will require different first aid processes. There is very often no set first aid for poisoning that covers all poisons. It may be tempting to immediately flush with water, induce vomiting, and so on, and while these steps may be recommended in some instances, they can be harmful in others. Some chemicals that are poisonous will list first aid for poisoning directly on the bottle. Soaps and detergents, as well as other chemicals commonly found underneath the sink or in the garage, will have instructions on what to do if contact with the skin is made or if the product is ingested. Read these directions carefully and do what is instructed. Once all steps are complete, it is best to seek medical attention.
The steps of first aid for poisoning will also vary according to the location of the poisoning. If, for example, the material makes contact with the eyes, the steps necessary to treat this situation will be different than if the poison is ingested. You will need to be careful in these situations, as items such as eyeglasses or contact lenses may need to be removed for eye poisoning, but touching these items can also spread the chemical or poison.
The most important step in first aid for poisoning is staying calm. Panic breeds more panic, and it makes any situation much worse and far more dangerous. Calm down and try to keep the victim calm. If you are the person who has been poisoned, anxiety can cause symptoms that have nothing to do with the poisoning itself. Staying calm will allow you to accurately assess the situation and take the best course of action. Find out as much as possible about the particular poison in the limited time you will have, and then contact poison control or a medical provider.
