Envenenamiento e intoxicación | Dr. González | En Contacto

Key wellness / safety strategies (child poisoning & intoxication)

• Always prioritize safety first
  • Keep hazardous items out of reach, especially:
    • Kitchen
    • Shelves under counters
    • Areas where cleaning products and chemicals are stored

How to recognize poisoning / intoxication in a child

Possible warning signs

• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Blue lips
• Labored breathing
• Abnormal breath/odor (the speaker mentions “reading the breath”)
• Fainting/unconsciousness (suspect chemical ingestion)

Most common substances children accidentally consume

• Alcohol
• Cleaning products
• Drain cleaners (e.g., bleach)
• Acids used to clean tiles
• Medications (example given: paracetamol/lozenges and other medicines in general)

What to do immediately (and what not to do)

Vomiting: first response, but not always

• Do not induce vomiting if you don’t know the product, especially if it’s a chemical
• Inducing vomiting should only happen if:
  • A toxicologist/doctor tells you to
  • The situation clearly matches the safe indication (example mentioned: tablets/pills ingestion)

• Do not induce vomiting if the child is unconscious (unconscious = no induced vomiting)

• If medication/pills are involved and appropriate conditions exist, a clinician may advise induction.

Delay absorption (absorbent approach)

Time matters

• The speaker notes you have about 45 minutes for some substances to move from the stomach into the bloodstream.

Homemade approach (bread)

• Give burnt bread/charcoal removed bread mixed with water to reduce absorption.

Activated charcoal (more effective)

• Use activated charcoal mixed with water as a sponge-like absorber.
• After activated charcoal has been given:
  • Don’t induce vomiting anymore, since the substance has already entered and charcoal helps prevent further absorption.
• Sources mentioned:
  • Pharmacy (can be purchased)
  • Sometimes available via aquarium suppliers (same type; can be ground and stored)

Poisoning from skin contact (not just swallowing)

• Poisoning can occur by touching/handling chemicals.
• Examples given:
  • Handling fire extinguishers (organophosphates)
  • Handling rat poison (organophosphates)
• What to do:
  • Wash the affected skin area for ~15 minutes immediately (until the product/object is removed)

Urgent care guidance

Worst potential outcome

• Cardiac arrest (prepare for CPR if needed)

Seek medical help

• Go to the clinic / specialized center

Bring the substance/container

• Take the product/container with you so doctors can identify it and determine the correct treatment/antidote.
• The speaker emphasizes that unlabeled bottles are dangerous.

Prevention steps (best “medicine”)

• Label everything clearly
  • Keep products in original containers when possible
  • If transferring/marking, label with:
    • Name of chemical
    • A warning/skull symbol
• Keep products out of reach
  • Use latches/safety locks for cabinets under sinks
• Don’t store unknown chemicals in unmarked bottles
• Be extra careful during holidays
  • The speaker notes poisoning risk increases around end-of-year holidays.

Presenters / sources

• Dr. González (speaker/doctor)
• Program/source mentioned: Ecuavisa – “En Contacto”