3 Ways to Prepare for Poisoning Emergencies

1. Prepare Your Household

Any household preparation starts with the number of your local poison center posted prominently near the phone. Beyond that, you should make an inventory of toxic chemicals in your home, read their labels carefully and determine as much as you can about the best way to treat poisoning cases that involve them. Keep poisonous chemicals stored together and away from food or other consumables. If you have children or pets, you may want to lock the cabinet containing the chemicals. Keep all toxic chemicals in their original containers.

Always open a window or run a fan when handling household chemicals. You should never mix two chemicals together, as they can create toxic gas. You may wish to keep ipecac syrup or activated charcoal in the medicine cabinet to use in case of poisoning. Check with a poison center before administering them, as they may not be appropriate, depending on the poison. However, their timely use could prevent a lot of damage in some cases.

Prescription drugs should be treated much the same as household chemicals, even if they're not directly poisonous. Store them in childproof containers out of the reach of children. Never mix medications or take them past their expiration dates. Children may believe that they are candy if they see you taking them, so be sure to explain what they are and why they shouldn't be touched.

2. Understand Safety Procedures at Work

Workplaces that use hazardous chemicals are required by law to provide adequate safety measures. Know what they are before starting work there. If protective clothing must be worn, make sure that you put it on and take it off correctly, and only allow qualified personnel to handle dangerous chemicals.

Know the locations of any chemical showers or first aid kits in the building and how to reach them in case of a poisoning emergency. Have exits from the building mapped out. In the event of a spill, it is imperative to get to fresh air quickly. Also, make sure there is a predetermined assembly point where all workers gather when an alarm sounds. A manager or supervisor should perform a head count after any emergency to ensure that everyone is present. Practice drills should be routine, and anyone slated for rescue or medical duties should be trained in his responsibilities as well.

3. Know Poisoning Procedures for the Outdoors

Plants, pesticides and other hazards can present themselves during camping trips or even just a day hike in the outdoors. Familiarize yourself with any local plants and animals that may be poisonous. Learn to identify local poisonous plants by their leaves, flowers or berries. Never eat any plants or mushrooms you find in the wild, even if you think they're safe.

You can wear heavy clothes to prevent contact with poison oak or poison ivy and to reduce the risk of poisoning from animal bites. You may wish to carry basic treatment for poisons in a backpack. Skin wash is available for poison oak and poison ivy, and ipecac syrup and activated charcoal can be brought along for swallowed plants. Do not use both medicines together, as ipecac will induce vomiting, and activated charcoal needs to be swallowed.

Keep snakebite victims calm and remove any restricting clothing around the wound. Do not attempt to suck any poisons out of a snakebite. Keep the limb below the heart, call the hospital and move as quickly and calmly as possible in the direction of help.