1. Don't Wait for Symptoms
Symptoms of mushroom poisoning vary wildly depending upon which mushroom is consumed. They can range from stomach and kidney pains to nausea, diarrhea, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, dehydration, hallucination and comas. Symptoms may take a day or more to manifest and every moment delayed means more damage to the victim's system. As soon as you realize that you or someone close to you has eaten unsafe mushrooms, call a poison center or get to an emergency room immediately.
2. Get Samples If Possible
If specimens of the mushroom are still around, gather a few and place them in a plastic bag. It will allow the doctor to identify the root of the problem more quickly and better offer a solution.
3. Induce Vomiting
Though you should always check with a poisoning center first, vomiting will get any undigested bits of mushroom out of the victim's system before she has time to absorb them. You can use ipecac syrup to induce vomiting or simply stick a finger down the victim's throat to invoke the gag reflex. The sooner you can do this, the better. Each minute that passes moves the poisonous mushroom a little further along the digestive process. Generally speaking, you want to clear the mushroom out within an hour of taking it being ingested.
4. Monitor Breathing and Pulse Rates
There is normally no antidote for mushroom poisoning; you simply clear as much of the poison out of the system, treat the symptoms and keep the victim stable until the mushroom completely passes. In a hospital environment, medical personnel will monitor vital signs as a matter of course. However, if you're waiting for an ambulance or are unable to get to a hospital, you should keep a close eye on both breathing and heart rates. Take the victim's pulse and measure it for a length of one minute. Repeat the process and see if the pulse rate is speeding up or slowing down. Gauge the number of breaths the victim takes per minute as well. This will help the doctor with his diagnosis. If the victim is having trouble breathing, clear the air passages and perform CPR if necessary. Make sure the mouth and nose are both clear, especially if you have induced vomiting.
