Accidental Poisoning Symptoms and When to Seek Treatment

More than 102,000 people died of preventable poisoning in the United States in 2021. It’s now the leading cause of preventable injury fatalities in the country, and both children and adults are at risk. You can save your life or the life of a loved one by knowing the signs of accidental poisoning and taking fast action when necessary.

Learn more about accidental poisoning and visit Premier ER & Urgent Care if needed.

Leading Causes of Accidental Poisoning

The causes of unintentional poisoning typically vary based on the age group. Young children are at risk of poisoning from household items, such as medicine, vitamins, and cleaning supplies. Kids are naturally curious and often explore with their eyes, hands, and mouths. It only takes a moment to ingest or become exposed to something dangerous, so they can accidentally poison themselves, even when their parents are nearby.

Drugs and alcohol are typically responsible for accidental poisoning in adults. Most people are aware that illicit drugs can cause unintentional poisoning. However, they may not realize that prescription drugs can have the same effect when they aren’t taken as intended. Also, drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.

Signs of Accidental Poisoning in a Child

If your child is exposed to a harmful, poisonous substance, call Poison Control or 911 or go to the emergency room. You’ll need to do this even if your child didn’t ingest the poison. Poisonous chemicals are also dangerous if inhaled or in contact with the skin.

But what if you don’t see your child touching, inhaling, or eating poisonous materials? It’s possible for poisoning to occur without your immediate knowledge, so it’s critical to know the symptoms.

Children display various symptoms based on the type of poison and the exposure method. The general symptoms of accidental poisoning in children may include:

• Burn marks around the mouth
• Redness, blistering, or peeling on the skin
• Sudden nausea or vomiting
• Trouble balancing or falling over
• Unexplained abdominal pain
• Unexplained drowsiness

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is extremely dangerous and can be fatal without treatment. Someone who has overdosed on alcohol is unlikely to call 911 due to cognitive impairment. However, friends and family members should seek emergency medical care for their loved ones.

Visit the ER or call 911 if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Blue or pale skin
• Clammy skin
• Confusion
• Lack of gag reflex
• Seizures
• Slow or irregular breathing
• Trouble waking up or remaining conscious
• Vomiting

Don’t struggle to get someone into your vehicle to go to the ER if they’re uncooperative. Instead, call 911 so medical professionals can handle it for you. Time is of the essence, so every moment counts when dealing with alcohol poisoning.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide poisoning can impact an entire household, regardless of age. Over 100,000 people visit United States ERs each year as a result of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, the odorless gas is responsible for around 420 deaths annually.

Make sure you have a functioning carbon monoxide detector in your home. Also, be on the lookout for the following symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning;

• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Weakness

Fast Accidental Poisoning Treatment

At Premier ER & Urgent Care you no longer have to guess where to go to get the level of care you or your loved ones need. With an ER and urgent care - under one roof, seek care confidently with Premier. Urgent Care is available from 7 AM – 9 PM, seven days a week. ER is open 24/7.

Premier ER & Urgent Care has four convenient locations in Texas-

San Marcos - 1509 N Interstate 35 San Marcos, TX 78666

Temple - 7010 West Adams Avenue Temple, TX 76502

Waco - 221 S Jack Kultgen Expy Waco, TX 76704

Woodway - 9110 Jordan Lane Woodway, TX 76712