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Poisoning — First Aid Overview
What to do
- Keep calm and keep the person safe. If they are unconscious, having difficulty breathing, fitting, or collapsing, call 911 first.
- Contact your poison control centre immediately for advice — in the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222 (staffed 24 hours). In other countries, use the local poisons information number or call emergency services.
- Have the details ready: what was taken, how much, when, and the person's age, weight and symptoms. Keep the container or packaging to show or describe.
- If the poison is on the skin, remove contaminated clothing and rinse with water. If in the eye, rinse continuously (see Chemicals in the Eye). If the poison was inhaled, move to fresh air only if safe.
- Follow the poison centre's instructions exactly. Do not make the person vomit and do not give anything to eat or drink unless they advise it.
- If the person becomes unresponsive, place them in the recovery position if breathing, monitor closely, and start CPR if breathing stops normally. Take containers and any vomit sample information to hospital if asked.
What NOT to do
- Do not induce vomiting — many poisons burn again on the way back up, and vomiting risks inhalation.
- Do not give milk, salt water, home antidotes or ipecac.
- Do not wait for symptoms before calling — many poisons act after a delay, and early advice changes outcomes.
- Do not put yourself at risk from fumes, chemicals or an unsafe scene.
When to get medical care
Call 911 for any poisoning with unconsciousness, breathing difficulty, seizures, severe pain, burns to the mouth or throat, or after deliberate overdose. Contact poison control (US: 1-800-222-1222) or emergency services for every other suspected poisoning — including medicines taken in error by children — even if the person feels completely well.
Related symptoms
Frequently asked questions
Why shouldn't I make someone vomit after swallowing poison?
Vomiting can cause a second burn to the throat and airway with corrosive substances, lets poisons like petrol products enter the lungs, and rarely removes much of the poison. Poison centres advise against it in almost all cases.
What information does poison control need?
The exact product or medicine name (the container helps), how much is missing or taken, when it happened, the person's age and weight, current symptoms, and any medical conditions or regular medicines. They will tell you whether home observation or hospital is needed.
In an emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) first — do not delay a call to read a guide. These pages are educational first-aid information in general terms; they are not a substitute for emergency services, first-aid training, or assessment by a qualified clinician.
