This document discusses poisons and how to assist someone who has been poisoned. It notes that poisons can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, absorption, or injection. If someone has been poisoned, do not wait for symptoms - immediately call the Poisons Information Centre. Common signs of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and difficulty breathing. To assist, call the Poisons Information Centre for instructions, call an ambulance if needed, and follow basic life support steps. The document provides guidance on assisting someone who swallowed, inhaled or got poison on their skin or in their eyes.

1. HLTAID003 – Provide First Aid
Slideshow 10
Poisons
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2. Poisons
Exposure to poisons can occurs in many ways
and can be either accidental or deliberate.
• Poisons can enter the body by being:
– Inhales – breathed in through mouth or nose
– Ingested – swallowed accidentally or deliberately
– Absorbed – through the skin
– Injected – by people or via bites and stings from
poisonous creatures
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3. Poisons
• If you think someone has been poisoned in
any way, do not wait for symptoms to appear.
Contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13
11 26 at anytime from anywhere in Australia.
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4. Poisons
Signs and Symptoms
• Nausea and vomiting
• Burning pain in mouth or
throat
• Headache
• Blurred Vision
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizure
• Loss of consciousness
• History of event
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5. Poisons
Steps to assist the casualty
• Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 – have
any poison container with you if safe to do so or write
down the product name and any ingredients listed on
the container
• Call Ambulance 000
• Follow Basic Life Support Skills if casualty:
– Shoes signs of anaphylaxis
– Has difficulty breathing
– Has a seizure
– Collapses
– Is Unconscious
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6. Poisons
Steps to assist the casualty
• Swallowed Poisons
– Give casualty small sip of water wash out of their mouth
– Do not try to make casualty vomit
– Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 and follow
instructions given
• Poison on Skin
– Remove contaminated clothing – (avoid contact with the
poison)
– Flush skin with cool running water
– Wash gently with soap and water and rinse well
– Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 and follow
instructions given
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7. Poisons
Steps to assist the casualty
• Inhaled Poisons
– Get casualty to fresh as quickly
– Ventilate the area is safe to do so (Open doors and windows)
– Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 and follow
instructions given
– If casualty is having difficulty breathing call ambulance
– Follow Basic Life Support Steps
• Poison in the Eye
– Hold the eyelid open and flush gently with running water fo 15
minutes
• Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 and follow
instructions given
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8. Drug and Alcohol Misuse
• Misuse of alcohol, prescription or over the
counter medications, illegal drugs or chemical
substances can result in a fist aid emergency.
An overdose occurs when the user takes a
harmful amount of one of more of these
substances. I can be difficult to determine
which substances have contributed to an
overdose.
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9. Drug and Alcohol Misuse
Signs and Symptoms
• Nausea or vomiting
• Feeling drowsy or confused
• Hallucinations
• Abdominal Cramps
• Diarrhoea
• Internal Bleeding
• Seizure
• Mood changes, including anxiety, aggression or depression
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of consciousness
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10. Drug and Alcohol Misuse
Steps to assist casualty
• Follow Basic Life Support steps
• Reassure casualty
• Try to identify the substance involved
• Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 and
follow instructions given
• Call ambulance is breathing or level of
consciousness is affected
• If casualty is unconscious make sure their airway
is clear
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11. Assessment Task
• Please proceed to the next slideshow then
complete the Assessment Task