Five minute medic: Poison
Post categories: five minute medic,Ìýhealth
| 19:33 UK time, Monday, 21 September 2009
All parents worry about their children having accidents. But how many would know what to do if their child was accidentally poisoned?
X-Ray challenged the people of Wrexham to demonstrate their first aid knowledge.
Health and safety rules today mean many potentially dangerous products are kept in child-proof containers. But accidents can still happen, so if the worst happens it's vital to know what to do.
Watch the video clip from the show
In our film, busy mother Sian Collins is trying to entertain her daughter, Emily, at home while keeping up with the household chores.
When she leaves the room to answer the phone, Emily refills her drink from an old lemonade bottle. But instead of pop, the bottle actually contains cleaning fluid.
We asked the people of Wrexham what they would do to help in a similar situation. Many didn't know, while some said they would take her straight to hospital.
Others suggested feeding Emily milk, making her vomit, giving her Calpol or even performing the Heimlich Manoeuvre on her.
To clear things up, we called in the help of Osian Roberts, a paramedic based in Aberconwy. He said in most circumstances children realise very quickly that what they are taking is bad and spit it out.
But if they do swallow something potentially dangerous, it is crucial to deal with the situation quickly and calmly.
Here is Osian's advice for dealing with a case of suspected poisioning:
- Remain calm and call 999.
- Check ABC- Airways, Breathing and Circulation.
- If the patient has fallen unconscious, place them on their side in the recovery position and keep them warm while waiting for an ambulance.
- Take whatever has been swallowed to the hospital. The more doctors know about the poison, the easier it is to treat the patient. Do not try to make the person sick. If the substance has burnt on the way down, the same will happen if it is brought back up, which could cause damage to the airways.
- Give the casualty cold water to sip or milk to soothe any burning. This will also help to dilute the product that has been swallowed. Reassure the patient. It is important to keep calm.
- And, of course, prevention is better than cure. So keep all hazardous products out of children's reach and make sure they are clearly marked.
