1. Be Aware of Your Environment
Chemical poisoning can occur when a toxin is inhaled, swallowed or exposed to the skin. Most people suffer from chemical poisoning accidentally, either in the home or in their workplace if their job involves toxic chemicals. Find out exactly what hazards are present in your job and what kinds of safety measures are in place. Learn the symptoms of exposure, and don't hesitate to call the doctor if you or anyone around you starts exhibiting these symptoms. Write down the location of any hazardous chemicals in your home and keep them out of children's reach by storing them safely and locking any cupboards containing them. Keep a list of hazardous chemicals near the phone, along with the number for your local poison control center (the national number is (800) 222-1222).
2. Read the Safety Labels
Any dangerous chemical should be clearly labeled and have important instructions on what to do if someone is poisoned. Mark the labels as poisonous if you don't think the warning is large enough and never transfer the chemical to another container. At work, read any posted warnings about toxic chemicals and don't handle any unless it is your specific job to do so. If it is, always follow the instituted safety measures and be sure to put on gloves, gas masks and other equipment if required.
3. Have First Aid Nearby
If you have chemicals in your home, you should own a first-aid kit, and the exposure to toxic substances at work may demand immediate treatment. Burning chemicals will need a solvent, chemical shower or eye wash to treat immediately. Swallowed chemicals can often be treated by antidotes or remedies such as activated charcoal. Ipecac syrup can be used to induce vomiting in children. Include these materials in your first-aid kit, then make sure everyone knows where to access this kit in the case of an emergency.
4. Look for Long-Term Health Hazards
Chemical poisoning often doesn't show up right away, but symptoms appear gradually, as years of exposure start to build up in your system. You may associate the symptoms with another illness when they first occur: for instance, increased breathlessness, an ache in the muscles or difficulty performing routine tasks could be attributed to the flu. By the time you realize these are chemical poisoning symptoms, the damage may have already been done, and long-term chemical poisoning can rarely be reversed. Be aware of the long-term effects of any chemicals you work or live with, see the doctor regularly and ask him to perform any tests for detecting high levels of chemical poisoning in your body.
