Illustrated First Aid Guide - Marcia Wendorf [30]
Carbon monoxide can leak from any of these:
• Gas stoves
• Gas water heaters
• Gas clothes dryers
• Fireplaces or firepits
• Wood stoves
• Gas or charcoal barbecues
• Gas or oil space heaters
• Smudge pots
• Gas or diesel generators
• Gas or diesel cars and trucks
• Motorboats
• Motorcycles
• Gas-powered lawn equipment
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
• Headache and confusion
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness and fatigue
• Dizziness and unstable gait
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unconsciousness
Treatment:
1. While waiting for emergency medical attention, get the victim into fresh air.
2. If the victim isn’t breathing, start CPR.
3. Have fire department personnel or other professionals find the source of the carbon monoxide and fix it.
Food
All foods contain small amounts of naturally occurring bacteria, however, improper cooking, handling or storage can result in the bacteria multiplying to large enough numbers to cause illness.
Food can also contain parasites, viruses, toxins and chemicals, however, this type of contamination is much less common. Infants, young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk from food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning generally include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting.
Botulism is a potentially fatal food poisoning caused by a toxin formed by certain spores in food. It is most often found in home-canned foods, especially green beans and tomatoes, and symptoms usually begin 12 to 36 hours after eating the contaminated food. Symptoms include: headache, blurred vision, muscle weakness and paralysis, urinary retention, difficulty breathing and dry mouth. Seek medical attention immediately if botulism is suspected.
Treatment:
1. Seek medical attention for symptoms lasting longer than 3 days or if blood appears in the victim’s stools.
2. If watery diarrhea turns very bloody, seek medical attention immediately.
3. Rest and drink plenty of liquids.
4. Don’t use anti-diarrheal medications because they may slow elimination of bacteria from your system.
Injested Poisons
Symptoms of poisoning are often mistaken as seizures, alcohol intoxication, stroke or an insulin reaction. If you suspect poisoning, in the United States, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222. Other countries around the world have their own poison control numbers.
When calling a poison control center, provide information about the person’s symptoms and, if possible, what he or she ingested, how much and when. Prior to 2003, treatment of suspected poisoning included administering ipecac syrup to induce vomiting, however that year the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that parents discontinue using ipecac, saying that it can do more harm than good.
Signs to look for in poisoning include:
• Burns or redness around the victim’s mouth and lips
• The victim’s breath smells like chemicals, such as gasoline or paint thinner
• Burns, stains or odors on the victim’s body or clothing, or on objects surrounding the victim, such as furniture, carpeting or floor
• Empty medicine bottles or pills scattered near the victim.
• Vomiting, difficulty breathing, sleepiness, or confusion.
Treatment:
1. If the victim has been exposed to poisonous fumes, such as carbon monoxide, get them into fresh air immediately.
2. If the person swallowed the poison, remove anything remaining in their mouth.
3. If you can locate the suspected poison’s container, and there are instructions for accidental poisoning on the label, follow those instructions.
4. If you can’t locate the container, there are no instructions, you can’t identify the poison, or if the poison is medication, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.
5. Follow any treatment instructions given by the Poison Control Center.
6. Be sure to take the poison container or any