1. Determine How the Ricin Got Into the Body
Ricin is produced by processing Castor beans, which is used in Castor oil and similar substances. It prevents the manufacture of proteins within your cells, which eventually kills them. Ricin can be swallowed, inhaled or injected, and treatment depends on how you were exposed to it. Look for specific symptoms.
If you've swallowed it, you'll experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Urine and feces may have blood in them, and your blood pressure may drop as well. In the worst cases, you might suffer from seizures, and internal organs like the liver and kidneys may shut down.
If you've inhaled ricin, you'll likely develop respiratory problems within a few hours. You may have difficulty breathing and feel tightness in the chest. Coughing and fever are common symptoms as well, and fluid may accumulate in the lungs.
Eternal exposure is uncommon, but can produce pain and redness on the skin and in the eyes.
2. Get the Victim Away From the Ricin
If Ricin poisoning came through the air or exposure to the skin, you need to get the victim away from the poison as quickly as possible. Take him out into fresh air, either by exiting the building or by moving away from the area where the ricin poisoning took place. If any got on the victim's clothes, remove them immediately. Wash the victim's skin with soap and water to cleanse it. If ricin is in the victim's eyes, wash them gently with clean water, holding the eyelids open and rinsing for at least 15 minutes. When treating someone else, wear protective clothing so that you don't get any ricin on yourself.
3. Make Sure the Victim Can Breathe
If the victim is having respiratory problems, get him to a hospital immediately. Make sure that his airways are open and administer CPR if he's having difficulty breathing. If he can sit up, he should do so to avoid choking on vomit or similar fluids. A hospital can make sure he gets air and provide intravenous fluids as well.
4. Purge the Ricin From the Victim's System
If the ricin was swallowed, it will need to be removed. However, you should not induce vomiting or give him anything to drink: that may make the situation worse. If the ricin was taken recently, give him activated charcoal--a common treatment for poisoning that can absorb the ricin and help the body pass it safely. Hospitals should be able to treat it with more formal means, so it is imperative that you get the victim there as quickly as possible.
5. Treat Individual Symptoms
If the victim has low blood pressure or shows signs of going into a seizure, a doctor might use medication to treat those two conditions. Only a trained medical professional should administer medication to someone who has been poisoned.
