When should you call emergency services instead of the Poison Control Center for household poisoning?

You must call emergency services immediately (such as 911 or your local emergency number) in cases of household poisoning if the person is unconscious, is not breathing, has gone into cardiac arrest, is experiencing seizures, has severe difficulty breathing, or has a rapid or irregular heartbeat after exposure to a toxic substance [2]. In these cases, immediate medical response is essential to save a life.

If the person is conscious and stable, you can call the Poison Control Center for expert guidance [2]. US references describe poison centers that provide free and confidential advice around the clock. Check the poison center available in your country; they can guide you on the next steps, whether the situation requires immediate medical care or can be managed at home [2].

Poisoning symptoms that require calling emergency services

Certain poisoning symptoms require an immediate response from emergency medical services. These symptoms include:

• Unconsciousness or fainting: If the person is unresponsive or unconscious, this is a medical emergency requiring rapid intervention [2].
• Breathing difficulty or cessation: Any breathing problem, such as very slow or very fast breathing, or an inability to breathe, requires emergency assistance [2].
• Cardiac arrest: If the person's heart stops beating, CPR must be started and emergency services called immediately [2].
• Seizures: Convulsions or uncontrolled muscle twitching are indicators of severe poisoning and may require urgent medical care [2].
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat: Poisoning can affect heart function, and any serious changes in heart rate require medical evaluation [2].
• Severe or persistent vomiting: Especially if accompanied by dizziness or severe drowsiness, or if there is suspected ingestion of a substance like gasoline, as vomiting can lead to inhaling the substance into the lungs, causing breathing problems [1].

If any of these symptoms are present, do not hesitate to call emergency services immediately. The top priority should be ensuring the affected person's safety and obtaining specialized medical help.

When is it sufficient to call the Poison Control Center?

If the person is conscious, breathing normally, and not exhibiting any of the dangerous symptoms mentioned above, calling the Poison Control Center is the recommended first step [2]. Poison experts can provide accurate guidance based on the type of substance, the amount exposed to, the person's age, and their health status [2].

When calling the Poison Control Center, be prepared to provide the following information [2]:

• Name of the toxic substance or medication exposed to.
• Approximate amount ingested or exposed to.
• Weight and age of the affected person and any health problems they have.
• Time the poisoning occurred.
• How the poisoning occurred (oral, inhalation, skin, or eye contact).
• Whether the person has vomited.
• Any first aid provided.

Even if you are not sure if exposure to a substance will cause poisoning, it is best to call the poison center for advice [2]. Not all chemical or medication exposures require emergency care, and poison experts can help you determine this.

Initial first aid before help arrives

While waiting for emergency help or speaking with the Poison Control Center, there are some general first aid measures that can be taken [2]:

• For inhaled poisoning: Move the person to fresh air immediately [2].
• For skin poisoning: Remove any contaminated clothing and wash the skin with running water for 15 to 20 minutes [2].
• For eye poisoning: Rinse the eyes with running water for 15 to 20 minutes [2].
• For ingested poisoning: Do not attempt to give the person activated charcoal or syrup of ipecac, and do not give the person anything before speaking with the Poison Control Center [2].

Remember that the goal is to reduce exposure to the toxic substance and prevent further absorption [2]. For additional information on first aid and household poisoning prevention, you can visit the page Household Poisoning: First Aid, When to Call Emergency, and Prevention (Arabic).

Medical references

• Benzene
• Poisoning