First aid for food poisoning. Providing first aid for food poisoning Food poisoning symptoms first aid

Food poisoning is a common problem that occurs when consuming low quality products.

The causes of food poisoning can be the consumption of inedible foods (poisonous mushrooms), poor-quality, expired food or food that contains large number dangerous bacteria that poison the body.

Food poisoning can occur as a result of non-compliance with hygiene rules, and in case of violation of the storage and preparation of food.

Food intoxication is not the only problem, which can occur in a person who has food poisoning. Eating poor quality food can result in an intestinal infection.

Symptoms and signs of food poisoning

If the food contains certain harmful bacteria, they can trigger the development of unpleasant and long-term problems. drug treatment diseases in a hospital setting.

The most common diseases resulting from poisoning and requiring hospital treatment include:

• Dysentery- spicy infectious disease, the development of which is provoked by the bacterium Shigella. It is characterized by severe intoxication of the whole body and inflammation of the intestines. The disease is popularly known as bloody diarrhea" In cases of complications, dysentery is dangerous due to possible intestinal rupture. Requires drug treatment.
• Botulism- a complex infectious disease that is accompanied by severe intoxication. Botulism rods most often multiply in improperly canned foods, fish, and sausages. At the slightest suspicion of the possibility of infection with botulism, you should consult a doctor. In cases of untimely treatment, the disease is dangerous due to irreversible damage nervous system and can be fatal.
• Escherichosis — infectious disease, which affects the gastrointestinal tract. Poisoning due to escherichiasis is accompanied by the development of acute enterocolitis and enteritis. Infection can occur in the absence of hygiene, through water and food, and is often observed in young children. Definitely requires medical intervention and medication.
• Salmonellosis- view intestinal infection, which is accompanied by severe intoxication, affects the gastrointestinal tract. If not treated promptly, it can provoke the development renal failure. Requires mandatory contact with a medical institution.

The first symptoms of food poisoning in adults and children can appear 2-4 hours after eating or a day later. Food intoxication activates the body’s defense reactions, which begin to reject harmful substances that have entered it. Often one of the first symptoms indicating food poisoning in a person is nausea and vomiting. The victim may feel sudden lethargy, weakness, and unprovoked extreme fatigue.

In addition, food poisoning, which requires help and treatment, can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

• diarrhea;
• slight increase in temperature;
• abdominal pain;
• extreme thirst;
• increased sweating, chills, pale lips and facial skin.

If a person suspects that they have recently eaten food of questionable quality and they exhibit similar symptoms of food poisoning, they should not be ignored. Provided that vomiting and the urge to go to the toilet are infrequent, and abdominal pain is moderate, you can treat and provide first aid for food poisoning at home yourself.

First aid at home for food poisoning

Measures taken at the first signs of poisoning are aimed at maximizing the removal of toxins from the body and preventing dehydration.

These measures are usually sufficient to cope with the symptoms of food poisoning. At the same time, you should know exactly what caused the attack. It is very important to remember that many toxins cannot be dealt with on your own at home.

• body temperature has risen to 39°C and above;
• the poisoned person complains of very strong pains or constant cramps in the abdomen;
• the stomach has become hard or very swollen;
• appeared on the body skin rash;
• the main signs of food poisoning were supplemented by inflammation and pain in the joints;
• breathing problems have become noticeable, difficulty swallowing is observed;
• Blood is visible in the patient's stool or vomit.

If first aid for food poisoning has been provided, but severe vomiting and diarrhea does not go away within the next two to three hours, you should call ambulance.

Treating food poisoning at home may have negative consequences in cases where the patient requires more serious qualified assistance than just taking a sorbent. In case of mushroom poisoning, you should call an ambulance immediately.

For example, the venom of the toadstool can destroy liver cells in a short time. Exotoxic botulism bacilli that entered the body with food products, in case of failure to provide the first medical care, cause not only poisoning, but also affect the human nervous system.

You should not hesitate to call an ambulance so that the person can receive qualified first aid if the symptoms of food poisoning intensify.

Regardless of where treatment and first aid for food poisoning took place (at home or in hospital), for more quick recovery the body needs to take some preventive measures. First of all, this long-term use probiotics that will restore damaged flora and help cope with dysbiosis, which often appears after prolonged diarrhea.

Even after full recovery You should stick to a diet for some time - do not eat fatty, spicy, fried foods or alcohol. After suffering intoxication, the body is always weakened, and it should not be loaded with foods that are difficult for the gastrointestinal tract.

As a rule, poisoning occurs when consuming low-quality or expired food products, which cause intoxication of the body. First aid for food poisoning, which can be provided by the patient’s relatives, will help get rid of the pathogenic condition.

Providing first aid to victims of acute food poisoning

Providing first aid for food poisoning becomes necessary immediately after its symptoms appear. The main symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, weakness, malaise, pale skin, diarrhea, chills, and fever.

When providing first aid for food poisoning, the sequence of actions should be as follows:

• Gastric lavage. To normalize the condition of a person who has been poisoned by food, the remnants of toxic food should be completely removed from the gastrointestinal tract. To carry out the procedure, you need to prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate, drink a little of this liquid, induce vomiting, and do this several times. To cleanse the intestines, you can do an enema, this will remove harmful substances from the body faster.
• Reception of sorbents. First aid for acute food poisoning also comes down to taking sorbents that will help remove toxic substances from the body. The most accessible, widespread and cheapest of these drugs is activated carbon. Reception activated carbon reduces absorption in gastrointestinal tract toxins found in foods. You should adhere to the following dosage: one tablet of coal per 10 kg of body weight. Instead of regular black, you can use white coal. Other sorbents used for food poisoning are drugs such as Smecta, Laktofiltrum, Enterosgel.
• Providing the body with plenty of fluids. Flushing the gastrointestinal tract can lead to dehydration, so providing first aid to victims of food poisoning should also include providing the victim with plenty of fluid. You need to drink at least 2–3 liters of boiled water per day. Experts say that the water needs to be slightly salted - one teaspoon of salt per liter of liquid. You can alternate this saline solution with sweet, weak tea. Special ones are also used pharmaceutical products, restoring the body’s water balance - “Regidron” or “Oralit”, they contain glucose and mineral salts that prevent dehydration.

First aid for food poisoning should be provided as quickly as possible, then you can do without the help of specialists. With food poisoning, the patient feels severe weakness, so he needs a gentle daily routine for several days. For the first day, it is recommended to completely abstain from food and sleep more. Starting from the second day after poisoning, you should follow a diet so as not to burden the patient’s gastrointestinal tract. On the second day, the patient can be fed jelly, crackers, liquid mashed potatoes or oatmeal porridge cooked in water.

It is not always possible to provide first aid to a patient on your own; with symptoms such as loss of consciousness, blurred vision and difficulty swallowing, you need to call a doctor at home. If a child is poisoned, you should not take any measures on your own; you need to contact a specialist.

You can go to a description of first aid for each specific type of poisoning by clicking on the subheading you need in the content.

In case of poisoning with any poisons, it is very important to provide first aid in a timely manner. Each toxic substance has its own mechanism of action, therefore first aid may differ significantly.

In any case, if you are poisoned, you need to call an ambulance!

If you are not sure what exactly caused the poisoning, proceed according to the following general scheme.

1. Break contact with the poison.
2. If the substance gets into the stomach, drink salted water and induce vomiting, then take enterosorbents.
3. Call an ambulance. Even if hospitalization is not required, they will help you assess the condition of the victim and give the necessary recommendations.

Important! Monitor your breathing and pulse. In case of severe poisoning, cardiac arrest or cessation of breathing may occur. In this case it is necessary.

If you know the type of toxic substance, then before the doctor arrives, refer to the instructions below.

First aid for poisoning with poisonous gases

The most common type is household gas poisoning. In second place are poisonings due to accidents at work.

First aid for food poisoning

First aid for poisoning with pesticides

In case of poisoning by chemical industry products (except alkalis and acids), agricultural poisons - insecticides, herbicides and others, if they enter the stomach, you need to do the following.

1. Induce vomiting, rinse the stomach with a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate (8-10 glasses).
2. Drink a saline laxative (Glauber's salt, magnesium). Attention! Oil preparations should not be used as a laxative ( castor oil and so on), since many pesticides in this group are highly soluble in fats.
3. Call an ambulance and be sure to say the name of the poison and active substance(indicated on the package).
4. Drink plenty of fluids.

First aid for poisoning with acids and alkalis

Poisoning with concentrated acids and alkalis is accompanied by burns of the mucous membrane and severe pain in the esophagus and stomach.

First aid for drug poisoning

Most medications have their own antidotes, so when contacting a doctor, it is advisable to provide the name of the medication and the dose that the victim took. Taking enterosorbents for acute poisoning:

• "Enterosgel" - 2 tablespoons;
• "Polysorb MP" - 3 tablespoons;
• “Polyphepan” - 2 tablespoons;
• “Smecta” - 2 sachets;
• activated carbon - 1–2 tablets per 10 kg of body weight.

First aid for alcohol poisoning

Important! In case of alcohol poisoning, you should not take paracetamol and drugs based on it (Citramon and others); it is better to take aspirin.

First aid for contact of poisons with the skin

First aid for skin contact with acids or alkalis

1. If the chemical gets on your clothing, remove it immediately.
2. Rinse the damaged area under running water for at least 10 minutes. The water should be warm.
3. If acid gets on the skin, wash the damaged area with a weak alkali solution: 2% soda, lime water.
4. If alkali gets in, rinse with a 2% solution of weak acid - boric, citric, ascorbic, vinegar.
5. In case of severe damage, apply a sterile bandage and consult a doctor.
6. In case of contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, rinse with water for 20–30 minutes, apply anti-inflammatory drops eye drops(sulfacyl sodium). If the poison irritating effect- apply a bandage and contact an ophthalmologist.

First aid for respiratory and (or) cardiac depression

Restoring position: the victim is placed on his right side, his head is turned to the side. Right hand bend at the elbow and place it under the head. The left leg is bent at the knee.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning most often occurs during fires or when exhaust gases accumulate in a confined space.

1. Remove the victim from the gas effect area and provide oxygen flow.
2. Ensure that clothing does not interfere with breathing.
3. Apply cold to your head and chest.
4. If loss of consciousness occurs, give ammonia a sniff.
5. Monitor breathing and, if it stops, perform artificial respiration.
6. If the victim is conscious, give drinking plenty of fluids, better tea or coffee.

First aid for mushroom poisoning

First aid for botulism

Botulinum toxin is a very potent poison. Therefore, if you suspect poisoning with canned food and food long-term storage Seek medical help immediately! While the ambulance is on its way, take it the following measures.

1. Drink a large amount of water with baking soda (2 tablespoons per liter), induce vomiting. Repeat several times.
2. Take a saline laxative (magnesia - 1 ampoule per half liter of water, Glauber's salt).
3. After 30 minutes, if the ambulance team has not arrived by this time, give the victim any enterosorbent.
4. In case of cardiac and/or respiratory arrest until functions are restored or until an ambulance arrives.

When providing first aid, it is important to first protect yourself and the victim from the effects of poison, then assess the patient’s condition and only then begin measures to provide first aid.

When eating low-quality food products, their improper preparation and storage, food poisoning may occur - foodborne toxic infection. By low-quality we mean products infected with various microorganisms and their toxins. Mushroom poisoning can be classified as a separate group.

The most dangerous are products of animal origin (meat, fish, sausages, canned food, milk and products made from it - confectionery with cream, ice cream). Shredded meat - pates, minced meat, jellied meat - is especially easily infected.

The first symptoms of food poisoning may appear 2-4 hours after eating (in some cases, 30 minutes), or even 20-26 hours. This largely depends on the type and dose of toxin and the condition immune system person.

Characteristic signs of food poisoning are:

• general malaise,
• nausea,
• repeated vomiting,
• cramping pain in the abdomen,
• frequent loose stools,
• pale skin,
• thirst,
• lowering blood pressure,
• increased and weakened heart rate,
• pale skin,
• increased body temperature (chills may appear),
• Sometimes convulsions and fainting are possible.

First aid for food poisoning

Measures taken at the first signs of poisoning are aimed at maximizing the removal of toxins from the body and preventing dehydration.

It is necessary to rinse the stomach. To do this, you need to drink about two glasses of warm water at room temperature and induce vomiting. It is advisable to carry out the procedure until clean water leaves the stomach.

These measures are usually sufficient to cope with the symptoms of food poisoning. But you don’t know what exactly caused the attack, and it’s impossible to deal with many toxins on your own at home.

Be sure to call an ambulance if:

• A child under 3 years of age, a pregnant woman or an elderly person was poisoned.
• Poisoning is accompanied by diarrhea more than 10 times a day, uncontrollable vomiting or increasing weakness.
• Poisoning is accompanied by uncharacteristic symptoms.

In case of severe poisoning caused by pathogens such as salmonella, shigella, botulism bacilli, etc., symptoms characteristic of ordinary poisoning may be absent.

For example, after eating food contaminated with botulism bacilli, general malaise may appear, headache, dizziness. In this case, the body temperature is normal, the stomach is swollen, but there is no stool. Within a day, signs appear severe defeat CNS: double vision, drooping upper eyelid, paralysis soft palate. Abdominal bloating increases, and urinary retention occurs.

Providing first aid for poisoning with botulism bacilli also comes down to gastric lavage, taking toxin-binding drugs and laxatives. But the most important thing is the administration of antibotulinum serum, which is only possible in inpatient conditions. And, therefore, the most important thing in such poisonings is to deliver the patient to a medical facility on time.

A healthy lifestyle for you is, first of all,...

First aid for poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Poisoning carbon monoxide is one of the most dangerous that a person faces in life. This gas is colorless, odorless, and heavier than air. It spreads easily through barriers, walls, windows, soil, and even respirators may not prevent its spread.

Carbon monoxide binds tightly to hemoglobin and affects red blood cells. Normally, hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout all tissues and organs. By binding to hemoglobin, carbon monoxide interferes with the supply of oxygen to the body, developing oxygen starvation or hypoxia. This condition is life-threatening and can be fatal in severe poisoning.

The first symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, rapid pulse, and disorientation. Fainting, euphoria, and confusion may develop.

What can you do

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, first aid should be provided before the ambulance arrives. The following measures must be taken:

remove or remove the victim from the source of carbon monoxide. Provide a flow of fresh air;

ensure the supply of oxygen to the body. Remove outerwear, tie, pressing items of clothing (belt, scarf, etc.);

lay the victim on his side, ensure peace;

if the person is conscious, give him hot sweet tea or coffee;

let the cotton wool soaked in it smell ammonia, in order to bring a person to consciousness;

if necessary, give to the victim indirect massage heart and perform artificial respiration.

The sooner the victim receives medical assistance, the greater the chance of recovery.

Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning

In order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, you need to follow simple rules:

• do not sleep in the garage;
• do not use a gas burner or kerosene lamp to heat an enclosed space;
• Do not leave your car in the garage with the engine running;
• Don't sleep in a car with the engine running.

Food poisoning

If you feel sick to your stomach from eating a pie of dubious quality at the station, then most likely you are dealing with food poisoning.

Many people have encountered a similar situation, but not everyone knows what to do. Food poisoning is a digestive disorder associated with the consumption of poor-quality or toxic foods and drinks.

Food poisoning there are two types:

foodborne illnesses associated with eating food contaminated with pathogenic microbes, for example, stale food. Also, failure to comply with hygiene rules and sanitary standards. For example, eating unwashed vegetables, fruits, etc.

Toxic non-infectious poisoning - develops when various toxins enter the body, for example, chemicals or poisonous mushrooms and plants.

Symptoms usually develop quickly. If measures are not taken in time, the intoxication of the body intensifies and can threaten a person’s life. TO characteristic symptoms food poisoning include:

abdominal cramps;

weakness, general malaise.

In addition to these symptoms, the temperature may rise to 39 ° C or higher, the pulse may increase, and drooling may develop. These symptoms are signs of severe intoxication. In this case, you need to consult a doctor.

What can you do

First aid for food poisoning should include:

gastric lavage. In case of food poisoning, it is necessary to remove toxic food from the stomach. To do this you need to prepare soda solution(1 tablespoon of soda per 1.5 - 2 liters of warm boiled water). You need to drink a little solution and then induce vomiting by pressing two fingers on the root of the tongue. Repeat several times.

Reception of sorbents. Sorbents include drugs that actively absorb toxins, preventing them from being absorbed into the blood. The most famous sorbents include activated carbon. The number of charcoal tablets that need to be taken is calculated based on body weight (1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight). Other, more modern sorbents include the drugs Enterosgel, Lactofiltrum, Smecta and others. They should be taken according to the instructions.

First aid for poisoning

Poisoning is called systemic lesion body due to ingestion of toxic substances. The poison can enter the body through the mouth, respiratory tract or skin. Distinguish the following types poisonings:

• Food poisoning;
• Mushroom poisoning (separated into a separate group, as they differ from ordinary food poisoning);
• Poisoning medicines;
• Poisoning with toxic chemicals (acids, alkalis, household chemicals, petroleum products);
• Alcohol poisoning;
• Poisoning with carbon monoxide, smoke, ammonia vapor, etc.

In case of poisoning, all functions of the body are affected, but the activity of the nervous, digestive and respiratory systems is most severely affected. The consequences of poisoning can be very serious; in severe cases, vital functions are impaired. important organs can lead to death, which is why first aid in case of poisoning is extremely important, and sometimes a person’s life depends on how timely and correctly it is provided.

General rules for first aid for poisoning

Principles of rendering emergency assistance the following:

1. Stop contact with the toxic substance;
2. Remove the poison from the body as quickly as possible;
3. Support vitally important functions body, primarily respiratory and cardiac activity. If necessary, carry out resuscitation measures (indoor massage heart, mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose breathing);
4. Call the victim a doctor, or in urgent cases, an ambulance.

It is important to establish exactly what caused the poisoning; this will help you quickly navigate the situation and effectively provide assistance.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning is what we most often encounter in everyday life Perhaps there is not a single adult who has not experienced this condition himself. The cause of food poisoning is the ingestion of poor quality food products, usually we're talking about about bacterial contamination.

Symptoms of food poisoning usually develop an hour or two after eating. These are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache. In severe cases, vomiting and diarrhea become intense and repeated, and general weakness appears.

First aid for food poisoning is as follows:

1. Perform gastric lavage. To do this, give the victim at least one liter of water or a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate to drink, then induce vomiting by pressing two fingers on the root of the tongue. This must be done several times until the vomit consists of one liquid, without impurities;
2. Give the victim an adsorbent. The most common and inexpensive is activated carbon. It should be taken at the rate of 1 tablet for every 10 kg of weight, so a person weighing 60 kg needs to take 6 tablets at once. In addition to activated carbon, the following are suitable: Polyphepan, Lignin, Diosmectite, Sorbex, Enterosgel, Smecta, etc.;
3. If there is no diarrhea, which is rare, a bowel movement should be artificially induced; this can be done with an enema or by taking a saline laxative (magnesia, Carlsbad salt, etc. are suitable);
4. Warm the victim - lay him down, wrap him in a blanket, give him warm tea, you can apply a heating pad to his feet;
5. Replenish fluid loss by giving the patient plenty of fluids - lightly salted water, unsweetened tea.

Mushroom poisoning

First aid for mushroom poisoning differs from help for ordinary food poisoning in that the victim must be examined by a doctor, even if the symptoms of poisoning at first glance seem insignificant. The reason is that mushroom poison can cause serious damage to the nervous system, which does not appear immediately. However, if you wait for symptoms to worsen, help may not arrive in time.

Drug poisoning

If drug poisoning occurs, you must immediately call a doctor, and before his arrival, it is advisable to find out what the victim took and in what quantity. Signs of poisoning medicinal substances manifest themselves differently depending on the effect of the drug that caused the poisoning. Most often this is a lethargic or unconscious state, vomiting, lethargy, drooling, chills, pale skin, convulsions, and strange behavior.

If the victim is conscious, while waiting for the doctor to arrive, it is necessary to carry out the same emergency measures as for food poisoning. An unconscious patient should be placed on his side so that if he begins to vomit, he will not choke on the vomit, keep his pulse and breathing under control, and if they weaken, begin resuscitation measures.

Poisoning with acids and alkalis

Concentrated acids and alkalis are strong poisons, which, in addition to toxic effects, also cause burns at the site of contact. Since poisoning occurs when acid or alkali enters the body through the mouth, one of its signs is burns of the mouth and pharynx, and sometimes lips. First aid for poisoning with such substances includes gastric lavage clean water, contrary to popular belief, there is no need to try to inactivate the acid with alkali, and you should not induce vomiting without rinsing. After gastric lavage, in case of acid poisoning, you can give the victim milk or a little vegetable oil to drink.

Poisoning by volatile substances

Poisoning that occurs as a result of inhalation of toxic substances is considered one of the most severe types of intoxication, since the process directly involves respiratory system Consequently, not only breathing suffers, but also toxic substances quickly penetrate the blood, causing damage to the entire body. Thus, the threat in this case is double - intoxication plus disruption of the breathing process. Therefore, the most important first aid measure for poisoning by volatile substances is to provide the victim with clean air.

A conscious person must be taken out into clean air and tight clothing loosened. If possible, rinse your mouth and throat with a soda solution (1 tablespoon per glass of water). If there is no consciousness, the victim should be placed with his head elevated and air flow should be ensured. It is necessary to check the pulse and breathing, and if they are abnormal, carry out resuscitation measures until cardiac and respiratory activity stabilizes or until an ambulance arrives.

Mistakes in providing first aid for poisoning

Some measures taken as emergency aid in case of poisoning, instead of alleviating the condition of the victim, can cause additional harm to him. Therefore, you should know common mistakes and avoid making them.

So, when providing emergency assistance for poisoning, you should not:

1. Give sparkling water to drink;
2. Induce vomiting in pregnant women, unconscious victims, or in the presence of convulsions;
3. Try to give an antidote yourself (for example, neutralize an acid with an alkali);
4. Give laxatives in case of poisoning with acids, alkalis, household chemicals and petroleum products.

For all types of poisoning, it is necessary to call an ambulance, because Poisoning almost always requires hospitalization. The only exceptions are mild cases of food poisoning, which can be treated at home.

How to provide proper first aid for food poisoning in an adult or child

Each of us has probably experienced food poisoning. The consequences of a person eating “something wrong” can occur in different forms. However, in any case, intoxication “turns us off” from life for a certain time various manifestations, which you want to deal with as quickly as possible. What should you do to help yourself as effectively as possible? Moreover, competent first aid for food poisoning can save the victim from many troubles that he will certainly encounter if he behaves incorrectly when identifying the first signs of intoxication.

Of course, when the poisoned person has lost consciousness, has convulsions, or vomiting and diarrhea do not stop and even become more frequent, then it is very important to hospitalize the patient as soon as possible. This is what you need to do if you are completely poisoned. small child. It is extremely dangerous to rinse your baby’s stomach at home on your own.

It is worth noting that of all types of poisoning, food intoxication is the most common. That's enough acute conditions arising from consumption, for example, of food that contains toxins of any origin.

Food intoxication is divided into three types:

• arising from ingestion of poisonous insects, animals, fish, plants,
• microbial, or PTI (foodborne toxic infections),
• caused by one or another chemicals, got into the stomach.

Of these three types, the most common is the second option - PTI, caused by pathogenic microbes and their metabolic products, toxins. Their causative agents are quite often:

• proteas,
• klebsiella,
• staphylococci,
• clostridia,
• citrobacter and others.

The sources of these microbes can be patients or healthy people, which are carriers of bacteria, as well as animals. Once on the product, microbes begin to actively multiply, releasing toxins that often do not change the appearance and smell of food, especially on early stages her infection.

Symptoms of food poisoning in adults

Basically, food poisoning in adults manifests itself as follows:

• spasms, pain in the stomach and along the intestines,
• constant nausea
• vomit,
• diarrhea,
• gases, a feeling that the intestines are bursting,
• weakness, dizziness,
• headache,
• tachycardia,
• visual impairment – ​​blurred outlines of objects, double vision, feeling of fog in the eyes,
• sometimes there is low-grade fever(up to 38 o C).

In particularly severe cases the following are observed:

• loss of consciousness,
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure,
• convulsions.

In this case, first aid for food poisoning should be as follows:

• place the patient on a flat surface,
• put his head on one side so that he does not choke on vomit,
• make sure that he does not hurt himself on anything during convulsions,
• call an ambulance.

How quickly can food poisoning manifest itself? It all depends on the type of toxins that cause it. If poisonous mushrooms or plants are eaten, then literally after 15 minutes the first signs of intoxication will make themselves felt. When we are dealing with PTI, on average, the most “interesting” begins approximately a couple of hours after eating spoiled food.

However, these figures are approximate, because a lot determines:

• the health status of the poisoned person,
• his way of life
• what did he eat before?
• what medications did you take?
• whether alcohol or drugs were present.

In any case, signs of poisoning will still manifest themselves, and the person and/or those around him must determine whether he is able to cope on his own or whether qualified medical assistance is needed. So that it doesn’t turn out that an ambulance is called, but you don’t want to go to the hospital. Then why did they bother the doctors if they were not going to get treatment? This means that the condition is not so bad that you need to go to the hospital and a home option for providing first aid for food poisoning will help.

It’s a completely different matter when a small child is poisoned. Here, parents should definitely call a doctor, but they themselves should take measures to help their baby cope with intoxication.

First aid for a child with food poisoning

How to determine that your baby has acute food poisoning and you need to urgently call the hospital:

• high temperature, up to 38 o C, which does not subside for two hours,
• increasing pain, abdominal cramps that do not go away after bowel movements and/or vomiting,
• constant vomiting, diarrhea,
• no urination for more than 4-5 hours,
• high salivation,
• difficulty breathing and swallowing,
• the skin has a bluish tint,
• fainting.

Even if your child is showing signs of mild food poisoning, it is still worth calling the doctor for advice on what the best course of action is.

What do we call mild intoxication in a baby?

• upset stool, urge no more than 3-5 times a day,
• short-term vomiting,
• light and short-term increase temperature.

What should you do in any case while you are waiting for a doctor or an ambulance?

• Provide your baby with plenty of fluids, the one-time amount of which depends on the baby’s age. If the baby is only 1 month old, one teaspoon as a single dose will be enough. Older children need to be given more fluids.
• Try flushing your child's stomach if he is over two years old; At home, you can induce a gag reflex in your baby by pressing on the root of his tongue with a clean finger or a teaspoon. This action must be repeated until the vomit waters become clear.
• After another bout of vomiting, place the child on his side to prevent sudden aspiration (sucking) of stomach contents into the lungs.
• When the stomach is rinsed and there is no urge to vomit, it is necessary to prevent dehydration by frequently giving the baby something to drink.
• Give a sorbent created specifically for babies. Older children, 5-6 years old, can be given activated carbon, crushed and dissolved in water, at the rate of one tablet per kilogram of weight.

After the main symptoms of poisoning in the baby have been relieved - at home or in the hospital - it is necessary to support his gastrointestinal tract with a gentle diet. If you have this question, consult your doctor, who will help you create a menu that is appropriate for your child’s age.

First aid for an adult with food poisoning

Providing first aid for food poisoning in this case comes down, first of all, to gastric lavage. For this purpose, you can use both ordinary water and special solutions. If you don’t have Regidron in your medicine cabinet, prepare a glucose-saline solution at home. For example, mix a teaspoon of salt and sugar in a glass of water.

If vomiting does not occur on its own, you need to induce it by pressing on the root of your tongue with two fingers. After the emetic solution becomes clear, gastric lavage can be stopped.

Now you need to take care to stop the absorption of toxins through the intestinal walls. Sorbents will help with this. The most popular is activated carbon; it is drunk at the following rate: for every 10 kg of body weight, 1 tablet.

If after taking charcoal the patient feels the urge to vomit, let him wait for 20-30 minutes for the sorbent to begin its effect. Then you can vomit everything out, and when everything calms down, take the charcoal again. Usually, after the second attempt, there is no urge to vomit, and the charcoal actively collects the remaining toxins through the intestines.

After this, put the patient to bed, because poisoning causes severe weakness. Place a towel soaked in salt water on his forehead, which will additionally “pull out” toxins and provide pleasant coolness, relieving tension.

After removing all the symptoms of poisoning, you need to drink a lot, because sorbents cause dehydration of the body.

At first it is better to drink just clean warm water, then, if the patient does not get worse, you can switch to herbal anti-inflammatory infusions, tea with honey. On the first day, it is recommended to only drink and completely refuse food, even if you have an appetite. Such fasting will help the body quickly restore strength and return a person to shape better than any medicine and, especially, food.

What not to do if you have food poisoning

• Cause a gag reflex in a pregnant woman or when a person is unconscious.
• Rinse the stomach of children under two years of age.
• Induce vomiting if the person has seizures or has cardiac disease.
• Place a heating pad on your stomach.
• Give fixative decoctions or medications for diarrhea.
• Induce vomiting if poisoned by petroleum products, acid or alkali.
• Do an enema yourself, especially for young children, pregnant women and the elderly.
• Give sparkling water and milk to drink.
• Give acidic solutions for alkali poisoning and vice versa.

Prevention of food poisoning

It is impossible to be 100% insured against food poisoning, but there are a number of rules that, if followed, will minimize the possibility of suffering from this type of intoxication:

• choose “safe” products that look and smell like they should,
• observe temperature conditions when preparing food,
• do not store cooked food for a long time,
• follow storage rules for all products,
• When heating previously prepared food, bring it to the highest possible temperature,
• take care that raw and cooked foods do not come into contact with each other,
• wash your hands often,
• keep the kitchen perfectly clean,
• store all products in places inaccessible to pets and various pests,
• take care of the purity of the water used.

If food poisoning cannot be avoided, the first thing to take care of is gastric lavage. Then proceed according to the scheme given in this article, and, hopefully, recovery will not take long.

Poisoning occurs when a poison enters the body, which can be any substance that has an harmful effects, and sometimes even leading to death. It is important to remember that poison can enter in various ways: through the mouth, lungs, skin (more often in children), mucous membranes (eyes, nose, etc.), insect and snake bites. First aid and treatment of poisoning largely depend on how the poison entered the body, as well as on the condition of the patient.

First aid tasks for poisoning:

• Stop or limit the flow of poison into the body.
• Remove any poison that has already entered as soon as possible, if possible.
• Provide the victim with a safe environment.
• Bring the victim to his senses, if necessary, perform artificial respiration and chest compressions.
• Take the victim to the hospital as soon as possible.

First aid can be provided both by strangers and by the victims themselves. It often turns out that timely first aid in the treatment of poisoning helps save lives. According to statistics, in the vast majority of cases, household poisoning accounts for 97-98%, while industrial poisoning accounts for only 2-3%.

Household poisonings are divided into alcohol intoxication, domestic accidents and suicidal poisonings undertaken intentionally. More than 500 toxic substances are described in the literature.

Main signs and symptoms of poisoning

• nausea, vomiting
• cold sweat
• chills
• convulsions
• sudden lethargy
• drowsiness
• loose stools;
• headache and dizziness.
• oppression respiratory function and disturbances of consciousness (in severe cases)
• drooling and/or lacrimation
• burns around the lips, on the tongue or on the skin
• strange behavior of the victim

What to do in case of poisoning, depending on the route of entry of the poison:

In case of poisoning alcohol, poor quality food, mushrooms, poisonous plants and their fruits, and other poisons, When poison enters the body through the mouth. If the victim is conscious, he is given a large amount of liquid to drink, then vomiting is induced by pressing on the root of the tongue (for persons over 6 years old) with fingers, the procedure is repeated until the rinses are clean.

After gastric lavage, crushed activated carbon (1 tablet per 10 kg of weight), smecta and other sorbents are used in the treatment of poisoning. Can be accepted white clay, saline laxative.

The victim is placed in a recovery position - on his side (so that he does not choke on vomit), and his legs are warmed with heating pads. Give plenty of fluids (tea and water are suitable for this).

An emergency medical team is called as soon as possible to hospitalize the victim, as his condition may worsen. It is advisable to save and give to the doctor the substance that poisoned the patient.

In case of poisoning with acids (vinegar) and alkalis, it is impossible to rinse the stomach.

In case of poisoning by gaseous chemicals ( carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, ammonia, bromine vapor, hydrogen fluoride, chlorine, sulfur dioxide, etc..),When the poison enters the body through the lungs when inhaled. According to the frequency of gas poisoning, poisoning carbon monoxide occurs more often than poisoning with other gaseous poisons. Carbon monoxide is formed when any type of fuel is burned: gas, oil, kerosene, wood or coal.

In case of poisoning carbon monoxide, the victim must first be taken to fresh air, provide him with a comfortable horizontal position, free from restrictive clothing.

It is necessary to rub the victim’s body, then wrap him warmly, apply warming pads to his legs, let him smell cotton wool with ammonia, if the victim is conscious, he can rinse his throat and mouth with a soda solution. In case of absence of breathing or its significant weakening, artificial respiration must be started .

Regardless of the degree of poisoning, the victim is hospitalized in a hospital in case complications from the nervous and respiratory systems arise later;

In case of poisoning by toxic substances penetrating through skin (some poisonous plants, chemical solvents and insect repellents - FOS - organophosphorus compounds (karbofos, dichlorvos, etc.)), the poison enters the body through the skin and mucous surfaces.

If a toxic substance gets on the skin, you need to remove this substance from the surface of the skin as quickly as possible with a cotton or gauze swab or rag, being careful not to smear it on the surface of the skin.

After this, the skin should be washed thoroughly warm water with soap or a weak solution of drinking (baking) soda, treat the affected area on the skin with a 5-10% solution of ammonia. If there is a wound, such as a burn, apply a clean or sterile wet bandage. Next, rinse the stomach twice with a 2% solution of baking soda (1 teaspoon of baking soda per 1 glass of water).

Then you should drink 0.5 cups of a 2% solution of baking soda with the addition of activated carbon or a saline laxative. The victim is given strong tea to drink. Wait for the ambulance team to arrive.

If a toxic substance gets into your eyes, rinse them immediately with a stream of water with your eyelids open. Rinsing should be thorough for 20-30 minutes, since even a small amount of a toxic substance that gets into the eyes can cause deep damage. After rinsing the eyes, apply a dry bandage and immediately consult an eye doctor.

What NOT to do

• do not induce vomiting if the person is unconscious
• do not induce vomiting in pregnant women
• do not induce vomiting in those with a weak heart or convulsions
• do not induce vomiting in case of poisoning with petroleum products, acids, alkalis
• do not give a laxative in case of poisoning with petroleum products, acids, alkalis
• Don't give soda!
• Do not give acid in case of alkali poisoning and vice versa!!!