2017 HCHB_digital

Poisonings
Any substance that has the potential to cause injury, illness, or death if it enters
the body, is considered a poison. This means that almost anything can be
poisonous if taken in a large enough quantity. Children and older adults and
people with coexisting medical conditions are at a much higher risk of fatality
from poisoning.
Poisoning in children
More than 300 children are admitted to hospital in New Zealand each year as a
result of unintentional poisoning; 81% of these poisonings occur in the home or
the home of a family friend or relative. Chemical or cleaner poisonings account
for most cases among children aged less than two, and prescription and over-thecounter
medicines (notably anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, multivitamins,
opioids, oral contraceptives, and paracetamol) are responsible for most incidents
in children under five.
Children aged one to four years are the most likely age group to be
poisoned, but fortunately, death from poisoning in children is relatively rare.
Poisoning in adults
The majority of adult poisonings are intentional. Most fatal intentional selfpoisoning
events involved carbon monoxide, while most poisoning admissions
involved prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Construction workers and
people who are exposed on a regular basis to chemicals or harmful dusts in the
course of their work are also at high risk of chronic poisoning.
Initial assessment
Remind all customers to store their medicines out of reach of children, even
people without children, as unintentional poisonings are just as likely to happen
in the home of a relative or friend.
Show concern if you notice that a customer, staff or family member appears
depressed. New Zealand has a relatively high rate of suicide – more than 500
people each year take their own lives, with many more attempting suicide. Most
people who commit suicide give some warning of their intentions to a friend,
family member, or someone they trust. Be willing to listen and take the initiative
to ask what is troubling them. Offer to source professional help and reassure
them that depression can be treated and problems can be solved.
If you suspect a person has ingested something poisonous call the Poisons
Centre for professional advice BEFORE administering any first aid: phone 0800
POISON (0800 764 766). Calls to the Poisons Centre take only a couple of
minutes, and provide the appropriate course of action, saving time and anxious
moments overall.
• NEVER induce vomiting unless told to do so by the Poisons Centre since this
can cause more damage.
• For non-urgent information, phone 03 479 7227 between 9am and 5pm.
National Poisons Centre
The NZ National Poisons Centre is New Zealand’s only poisons and hazardous
information centre and runs a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week hotline all year round
– 0800 POISON (0800 764 766).
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Type of poisoning
First aid
Poisons that have been swallowed Do NOT make the person vomit unless told to do so by a doctor or the Poisons Centre: 0800 POISON (0800 764 766).
Remain calm. Protect yourself from poisoning and seek first-aid advice from the Poisons Centre or call 111 if the person is displaying serious
symptoms of poisoning. If the person is unconscious, place in the recovery position and call 111. Bring the product container to the phone if you
can. Do not give fluids unless instructed to do so by the Poisons Centre. Fluids may cause a person to vomit. For some toxic substances this can
help the substance to be absorbed into the body and cause poisoning or may increase risk of burns to the throat. Do NOT rely on first-aid advice
on labels (this is sometimes incorrect or out of date). Wipe the mouth out to clear away any remaining substance.
Poisons that have been inhaled or
breathed in
Poisons that have been splashed
in the eye
Protect yourself from harm. Ventilate the area and quickly move the person away from the gas or fumes to fresh air if it is safe for you to do so.
Check skin and eyes for chemical burns. Flush with water if necessary. Call the Poisons Centre for advice. If the person becomes unconscious,
place in the recovery position and call 111. Do not attempt to remove an unconscious person from an area where highly toxic or unknown gas is
without proper safety equipment including breathing apparatus. Keep yourself safe at all times.
Flush immediately with clean room-temperature water poured from a jug, bottle, or low-pressure tap for at least 15 minutes. Pour water
continuously across the eye. Ask a bystander to contact the Poisons Centre for further advice while flushing if possible. Do not use eye baths or
solutions since these may react with the chemical. Take to a medical centre or hospital for an eye examination as soon as possible.
Poisons that have been splashed
onto the skin
Poisons that are bites or stings
Immediately flush the exposed area with lots of water for 15–20 minutes to remove all traces of the spilled poison. Seek medical attention if the
skin is damaged or the person is showing other worrying signs.
Treatment varies depending on type of bite or sting (see Bites and Stings for more detailed information), but generally the area should be
washed with mild soap and water. See a doctor if there are signs of infection (redness, swelling, blistering, pain) and seek immediate medical
attention if the person develops an allergic reaction (eg, rash, temperature, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face and neck). DO NOT take
an analgesic for pain without advice from a doctor unless the sting is from a common non-venomous creature (see Bites and Stings).
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Page 120 HEALTHCARE HANDBOOK 2017-2018 Common Disorders