Whether it's eating or drinking something that's harmful, or a reaction to food, or a natural substance that's unexpected, here is what to do in an emergency ...
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Poisons cover the whole gamut of toxic substances that we sometimes forget we have in our homes, as well as tablets and medicines which can, to a child, bear a resemblance to sweets. As well as known toxic products, potentially toxic substances such as detergents, disinfectants, nail varnish remover and toilet cleaning blocks should all be kept well out of your children's grasp.
To keep your house as safe as possible, you should:
- Assume ALL household cleaning products are potentially poisonous.
- Keep all such products - including gardening products, such as insecticides - locked away or out of reach.
- NEVER put poisons into other bottles, especially soft drink bottles.
Many poisonous products offer specific advice on the label on how to treat accidental swallowing of the contents and some have a number you can call for advice. But if your child has taken any of the following, very toxic substances, you must call 999 immediately:
- Oven cleaner
- Dishwashing powder, tablets or liquid
- Herbicides and insecticides
- Petrol or petrol derivatives
What To Do If Your Child Swallows Bleach or Other Hazardous Chemicals
- Try and establish what chemical your child has swallowed - you may notice some of the substance around your child's mouth or be able to smell it on their breath. Some bleach will cause burning around the mouth and lips, and possible discolouration of the lips.
- Wipe away any excess substance from the skin.
- Give your child sips of water or milk to drink.
- DO NOT make the child vomit.
- Seek medical advice immediately and take the suspected bottle of chemical to hospital with you.
What To Do If Your Child Swallows Drugs or Medicines
Try and find out what your child has taken and in what quantity - count the number of tablets remaining in the container or packet and try to remember how many tablets were in the pack previously. Use the same approach with liquid medicines.
Do not make the child vomit or give them anything to drink - if your child has swallowed tables, fluids will dissolve them more quickly in their stomach, meaning the drug can enter a child's blood stream faster, putting them at greater risk.
Seek medical advice as soon as possible, taking the suspected drug or medicine with you to hospital.
Allergic reactions can occur after a child receives an injection of drugs or vaccines, an insect/marine creature bite or after eating certain foods. Extreme allergic reactions to substances cause the sufferer to go into ‘anaphylactic shock', as their immune system goes into overdrive. Common substances that are known to cause such reactions include:
- Peanuts and some other nuts
- Dairy products
- Bee stings
- Natural latex (rubber)
In some cases a child may have a severe allergic reaction that develops within minutes, resulting in red blotchy skin, swelling around the face and neck and difficulty breathing. If this occurs call an ambulance immediately. Help your child into a position that helps their breathing and reassure them while you wait for the ambulance. Be prepared to resuscitate your child if necessary - see Day 4 for information on this procedure.
Febrile convulsions are the most routinely mistreated condition, according to the Red Cross. Many parents are unsure of the difference between a seizure and a convulsion. The former is more associated with epilepsy whereas a febrile convulsion is triggered by a fever and can occur as a result of an illness that causes a high temperature, such as flu or an ear infection.
Detecting Febrile Convulsions
- Touch your child's forehead - it will feel very hot. The skin on other parts of their body will also be very hot and may appear red and flushed.
- During a convulsion a child will twitch their muscles and their eyes may appear fixed or roll upwards. They may also arch their backs or clench their fists. If a child holds their breath, their face may become blue.
- A convulsion usually lasts a couple of minutes. In some cases the twitching may be quite violent and the child may become unconscious. If your child suffers a prolonged convulsion or they become unconscious seek medical advice immediately.
What To Do If Your Child Has a Febrile Convulsion
- Your main aim is to ensure the child does not injure themselves and to cool them down, so remove the child's clothing and open the window.
- Use tepid water to sponge over the child - this will help them to become more alert and the convulsion will fully stop once the child has cooled down.
- Encourage your child to drink plenty of water and give the recommended dose of Paracetamol-based syrup. This will reduce their discomfort and the syrup contains ingredients to help reduce body temperature.
More help and advice
Share your First Aid experiences, tips and advice in the Coffee House.
For information on general healthcare, including listings of doctors and health centres in your area, visit your local support pages.
For specific medical advice, start at NHS Direct, telephone 0845 4647
For more information about first aid training visit redcross.org.uk/firstaid , email firstname.lastname@example.org or call 0870 1709222
With thanks to the British Red Cross