1. Call a Poison Center
When you or someone around you has been chemically poisoned, summon help immediately if you can and always rely on your doctor's advice first. Every area has a local poison center, and a national number exists in the United States as well. It is (800) 222-1222. You can usually find it in the first few pages of any phone book. Write it down and post it near the phone if you need to.
2. Identify the Cause
Chemical poisoning can have any number of causes. It can come from household products like cleansers and roach spray or hazardous conditions in workplaces like foundries and mines. It can be absorbed via improperly treated food, and it can appear suddenly after unexpected exposure or it can build up slowly over years. Since the exact treatment depends on the kind of chemical we're talking about and the way in which you've been exposed to it, try to pinpoint the cause if you can; it will help the doctor treat you properly. If you can't determine the exact cause, try to narrow down possible means of exposure. There are usually three ways people are poisoned by chemicals: they can breathe the poison in, they can swallow it or it can be exposed to their skin or eyes.
3. Treat the Symptoms of Inhaled Poisoning
Inhaled chemicals are absorbed through the lungs and cause damage to the body as they are breathed in. The first step to treating inhaled chemical poisoning is to evacuate the danger zone. Take the poisoning victim outside into fresh air if possible, and then find a way to disperse the chemicals in the air by opening a window or turning on a fan if you can. Make sure the victim can still breathe and keep his mouth and nose clear of vomit or fluids. Give him oxygen if you need to, either through a gas mask or in an oxygen tent if you have access to it.
4. Clean the Skin and Eyes
Chemical poisons exposed to the skin will usually burn or cause blisters. First, remove any affected clothing, then carefully brush the poison off of the victim's skin. Always use gloves or tools to do this so that you won't suffer from burns as well. Flush the victim's body with running water--it will dilute the chemicals--and cover any burns or blisters with a sterile bandage. If the poison came into contact with the eyes, then rinse them with lukewarm water or saline solution for at least 15 minutes.
5. Purge Swallowed Poison
Ingested poison needs to be cleared out of the system before it can cause any more damage. In many cases, you can induce vomiting if the chemical was taken within an hour or so. You shouldn't induce vomiting with corrosive substances like lye or gasoline, nor should you do it if the victim is unconscious. You can also use activated charcoal, which bonds with the poison and helps it pass through urine or feces. It's available in most health food stores. You shouldn't use it with corrosive chemicals like lye or acid, and it also should be avoided in cases of cyanide, lithium, iron poisoning or ethanol and methanol ingestion.
