Quick treatment when children swallow chemicals by mistake

In recent years, the number of children hospitalized due to poisoning with detergents and chemicals tends to increase. Timely detection and first aid for children when they are poisoned to avoid unfortunate consequences.

Chemicals that children drink by mistake are gasoline, kerosene, cleaning solutions, acids, herbicides.... Children who drink the wrong chemicals often have some symptoms such as coughing, coughing, cyanosis, and vapors. chemical smell...

In addition, there may be burns around the pale mouth area due to the child's ingestion of a corrosive poison. Injury depends on the type of chemical, chemical concentration, time and dose that the child swallows or ingests. When children swallow corrosive chemicals, the first thing to do is to treat them early to avoid deep damage.

First aid when children swallow chemicals by mistake

The first thing when you catch someone taking the wrong drug or chemical is to stay calm and avoid panic in order to handle it correctly. It is necessary to find out what the victim has taken by mistake, and in what amount. Because each drug, chemical will cause different clinical manifestations and treatment.

For example, with volatile chemicals, strong corrosive cleaning solutions such as: Acids, bases or gasoline... Adults must not induce vomiting in children. If vomiting is caused, when the chemical is taken out, it is also the time when the chemical vapor has the opportunity to enter the trachea again, increasing the level of poisoning, causing esophageal burns. Children are more susceptible to pneumonia because the vapors of these chemicals enter the respiratory tract.

The best initial treatment is for children to use dilute salt water to rinse their mouths, if they are young, wipe their mouths. Washing a lot makes the acid concentration lower in place, avoiding damage from spreading. You can give your child a little water to drink if the chemical causes a burning sensation in the throat. Let your child drink slowly to avoid choking on the water, making the situation worse. After first aid, the child should be taken to a medical facility for further treatment and detoxification.

To prevent the consequences of taking the wrong chemical, it is necessary to keep the drugs and chemicals out of the reach of children. It is best to keep it in a separate, locked box, out of reach of children. Chemicals should not be stored in drinking water bottles such as Lavie, C2 tea, etc. to avoid possible confusion.

Avoid reusing colored plastic bottles, opaque shells, difficult to observe the color of the substance inside to store chemicals. Do not store beverages in bottles that are originally chemical packaging. Do not share oral medications with disinfectants, for external use.

(According to Master Vu Hong Anh - Life Health Newspaper)