Claúdio Ferreira Nurse Coordinator LUZ 24 We have to take special care with many common products that we have at home. They can be toxic by ingestion, inhalation, contact with the skin or eyes, causing from mild symptoms to serious injuries or even being life-threatening. Among these common products are, among others: Medicines; Alcoholic beverages; Home cleaning products; Personal care products, cosmetics and hand sanitizer; Household pesticides, insecticides, rodenticides; Gas. Accidental poisoning is more frequent in younger children when they already move themselves with some autonomy. Due to their normal curiosity, they are aware of their surroundings, explore everything and put things in their mouths. In young people and adults, accidental poisoning occurs mainly: When potentially toxic products are not kept in their original packaging and/or the used containers are not identified and/or the identification is not clear or visible enough to attract attention. With smoke from fireplaces, gas leaks and/or insufficient ventilation/extraction. How to identify an accidental poisoning The symptoms of an accidental intoxication are not exclusive to these accidents, nor are always the same. They mainly depend on : The toxicant; The route of entry into the body, the amount and time of contact; The age of the affected person. You should suspect that accidental poisoning may have occurred when you notice the following symptoms, especially in children, with no other explanation: Redness or burns around the mouth, eyes or areas of skin; Difficulty breathing or breath with chemicals odor; Eye inflammation and watering; Excessive sleepiness, changes in mental state or state of consciousness; Vomiting; Abdominal pain. Suspicion may be stronger if you also : Find empty containers of medicines or other potentially toxic products, or with less content than you thought they had or out of its usual place; Ambient odors different from the usual ones. What to do in an accidental intoxication Accidental poisonings need medical attention . In case of a poisoning suspicion with behavior alteration, call in Portugal 112 ; If the affected person is conscious, alert and responding to indications, you should try to interrupt contact with the toxicant to reduce its absorption into the body; In Portugal call INEM Centro de Informação Antivenenos (CIAV) (800 250 250), with information about the toxicant and how the poisoning occurred. When applicable and possible, you should have the original product packaging with you in order to provide the information requested; If there is a risk of being contaminated, protect yourself so as not to compromise the care you are going to provide (for example, putting on gloves if it is a toxic product in contact with the skin). Poisoning by ingestion Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water; Do not induce vomiting; Start food break (no not give food); Follow the directions given by CIAV. Poisoning by inhalation Take the affected person outdoors; Loose shirts or garments that are tight or close to the neck; Open the doors and windows of the place to ventilate as much as possible. Start food break (no not give food); Follow the directions given by CIAV. Poisoning by skin contact Remove clothes that are contaminated; Remove the affected person from the place where the toxic product has been spilled; Wash the exposed areas of the skin with plenty of water at room temperature. Follow the directions given by CIAV. Intoxication by eye contact Rinse eyes with clean water, using a low pressure jet running from the inner corner, on the side of the nose, to the outer corner of the eye. Do not apply drops, ointments, or any other products in the eyes without a specific medical indication. Follow the directions given by CIAV. Preventing accidental poisoning Poisoning prevention is done by preventing contact with all potentially toxicants . Thus: Keep medicines, cleaning products or any other potentially toxic products in locked cabinets and out of the reach and sight of children ; Do not store potentially toxic products in packaging other than the original ones . Throw away the empty packaging of these products in the appropriate garbage, do not use it for other purposes; Do not use water bottles to store cleaning products, alcoholic beverages or other potentially toxic liquids or products; Do not keep packages with contents that are not properly identified . Do not apply insecticides ( eg ant powder, cockroach poison) and rodenticides in visible and easily reachable areas . Use insecticide and rodenticide baits in bait stations. Do not spray insecticides indoors where people are or to areas that are frequently touched with by hands. Carefully read the labels and package inserts of all potentially toxic products and follow the specific instructions regarding storage conditions and actions in case of accidental poisoning. Comply with the regulations for the installation and use of domestic gas equipment . Regularly check the condition of domestic exhaust systems and equipment. Respect the expiration dates and carry out the necessary cleaning and inspections, for example, of chimneys, exhaust fans, gas hoses from stoves, water heaters or gas heaters. If you need to, call LUZ 24 – 217 104 424 – the Hospital da Luz clinical triage service, by phone, available 24 hours, 365 days, for adults and children. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
