Month: August 2023

The Vital Facts

• Accidental poisoning ranks 9th among causes of injury hospitalisation in Australia, with over 8,800 cases and 1,400 deaths annually.
• Pharmaceutical drugs, both prescribed and acquired otherwise, account for 80% of accidental poisonings in 2021-22.
• Other substances like alcohol, solvents, and pesticides make up the remaining 20% of cases.

Poisoning injuries can occur anywhere, whether you’re at home, in the workplace, on a camping trip, or on a beach trip in the summer.

Understanding both how to prevent the dangers of poisoning and respond to poisoning injuries is important.

In this article, we will explore what poisoning injuries are, how to avoid them, how to recognise their symptoms and provide essential first aid for poisoning in cases of emergency.

Here’s a summary of what you’ll find below:

• What is a poisoning injury?
• What are the common causes of poisoning injuries?
• How to prevent poisoning injuries
• What are the signs and symptoms of poisoning injuries?
• First Aid for Poisoning

What is a Poisoning Injury?

Poisoning occurs when a person inhales, ingests, absorbs or gets a dose of a poisonous substance. Left untreated, the effects of poisoning can include short-term illness, coma, brain damage or death. A poisoning injury can happen intentionally or accidentally – and when this happens, first aid for poisoning can help save a life.

What are the Causes of Poisoning Injuries?

Poisoning happens when a person is exposed to a substance in an amount that harms the body. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons for injury hospitalisation in Australia.

Among the common causes of poisoning injuries are the following:

• Overdose of prescription and over-the-counter medicines
• Supplements and herbal medicines
• Alcohol and other substances of abuse
• Chemicals, such as cleaning products and pesticides
• Animal venom e.g. snake bites, spider bites
• Toxins from plants

How to Prevent Poisoning Injuries?

To avoid poisoning injuries and reduce the complications of poisoning, it helps to be cautious and aware of your surroundings – this can help protect you and your family from the risks of poisoning.

You can follow these precautionary steps to prevent poisoning injuries:

• Label potentially poisonous items such as cleaning products, chemicals and medication. It’s always best to keep them in their original containers.
• Keep all dangerous substances in childproof locked cabinets and closely supervise children (especially visitors) around your home.
• When handling medicine, go to a well-lit room, read the label and follow instructions carefully.
• Avoid taking medicine in front of children, especially if they’re at the age when they like to copy adults.
• Wear appropriate protection when tending to your garden or shed and make sure that the plants you have are not poisonous.
• Throw out dangerous chemicals that you no longer need at the nearest hazardous waste disposal service.
• In case of emergencies, familiarise yourself with the signs, symptoms as well as emergency first aid for poisoning.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Poisoning?

Signs and symptoms of poisoning that you need to watch out for include:

• Redness around the mouth and lips
• Vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Difficulty in breathing
• Breath that smells like chemicals
• Confusion or unusual mental status

First Aid for Poisoning

In cases of poisoning, immediately call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26. While waiting for help, you can follow these poisoning first aid instructions:

1. In case of swallowed poison:

• Pick up the bottle or packet and take it to the hospital so they have more information.
• DO NOT induce vomiting – this could potentially cause more harm.

2. In case of inhaled poison:

• Open the surrounding doors and windows wide to increase ventilation.
• Let the person get fresh air as quickly as possible.

3. In case of skin exposure to poison:

• Avoid getting in contact with the poison yourself.
• Try to remove the affected clothes.
• Flood the affected area with cool running water for 15 minutes.
• Wash the affected area with soap and water.

4. In case of eye exposure to poison:

• Hold eyelids open.
• Carefully flush the eyes of the patient thoroughly with water, if possible, ensure you flush under the eyelid as well

5. Take note of the following when reporting a poisoning injury:

• What substance the person was exposed to
• The amount of poisonous substance that was ingested, inhaled or injected
• When and how the person was exposed (skin contact, inhalation, swallowing)
• The symptoms observed after exposure to the poison

The best way to prevent poisoning injuries is to educate yourself and others about poisoning because knowledge is always the first line of defence. It’s important to be aware of poisonous substances and be cautious when using them to avoid poisoning injuries.

Complete a First Aid Course!

You’ll immediately feel more comfortable and confident!

If you want to ensure the safety of you and your family in the home, it’s important that you have the knowledge and skills to confidently administer first aid for poisoning and respond to a medical emergency until professional medical assistance is available.

At Vital First Aid, our qualified first aid trainers are highly skilled and experienced, and all first aid students will receive a First Aid Certificate on completion.

To benefit from our range of first aid courses, sign up here.

The Vital Facts

• According to a study conducted from 2014 to 2015:
  • 90% of electrical deaths associated with electricity networks involve overhead conductors.
  • Consumer appliances caused twice as many deaths (285) as electrical supplier assets (144).
  • Age-specific hospitalisation rates for electrical injuries were highest among young men aged 15–24.
  • Work-related incidents accounted for 47% of electrical injury hospitalisations.

Electric shock injuries can occur unexpectedly and pose serious risks to a victim’s health and vital internal functions.

Whether you regularly work with electrical equipment or simply encounter hazardous situations at home or out and about, understanding how to prevent and respond to electric shocks is important.

For immediate first aid response to electric shocks, follow these steps:

1. Ensure safety
2. Call for emergency assistance
3. Check for responsiveness
4. Protect against shock
5. Monitor vital signs

See here for a more in-depth explanation of the first aid steps for electric shock.

As you read on, we will explore what electric shock injuries are, how to avoid them, how to recognise their symptoms and provide essential first aid for electric shock when an incident occurs.

Jump to a section in this blog:

• What is an electric shock injury?
• How to prevent an electric shock injury
• Signs and symptoms of an electric shock injury
• First aid for electric shock

What is An Electric Shock Injury?

An electric shock injury refers to the physical harm caused by an electric current passing through the body.

This can take place due to direct contact with electrical sources or even indirectly through contact with conductive materials or surfaces that have become electrified such as water or metal objects.

The severity of the electric shock injury depends on factors such as the voltage, current intensity, duration of exposure, and the pathway the current takes through the body.

How to Prevent Electric Shock Injuries

1. Awareness and Education

The best way to prevent electric shock injuries is to educate yourself and others about electrical safety – knowledge is the first line of defence! It’s important to understand the risks associated with electrical equipment, power lines, and outlets.

2. Electrical Equipment Inspection

Next, you must regularly inspect electrical appliances, cords, and outlets for any signs of damage, such as frayed wires or exposed conductors. These are a common cause of injury and so you’ll need to replace or repair faulty equipment immediately.

3. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)

Another handy tip is to install GFCIs in areas where water and electricity are in close proximity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces. GFCIs quickly interrupt the power supply when they detect a ground fault to dramatically reduce the risk of an electric shock.

4. Electrical Outlet Safety

Finally, avoid overloading outlets with multiple plugs or extension cords – this only increases the chances of a problem or damage. Alternatively, ensure that outlets are properly covered and even use childproof caps if necessary.

Symptoms and Signs of Electric Shock Injuries

A key step in first aid for an electric shock is first recognising the signs of an electric shock injury so your response is both timely and effective. The following symptoms may indicate an electric shock:

1. Burns or Electrical Wounds

It’s important to look for any burns at the point of contact with the electrical source. These may appear as blisters or charred skin on the surface. However, they can also be internal, so it’s important to err on the side of caution.

2. Irregular Heartbeat

Electric shocks can disrupt the patient’s heart and its normal rhythm, leading to an irregular heartbeat or potentially even a cardiac arrest.

3. Muscle Contractions or Stiffness

Electric shocks can also cause involuntary muscle contractions, resulting in temporary paralysis or a “freezing” effect.

First Aid for Electric Shock

If you encounter someone who has suffered from an electric shock injury, it is crucial to take immediate action with these first aid steps:

1. Ensure Safety

The first rule of any first aid procedure is to prioritise your safety and then the victims. Disconnect the power source or any other hazards using a non-conductive object to separate the victim from the source, such as a dry wooden broom or rubber gloves.

2. Call for Emergency Assistance

Dial emergency services immediately or ask someone nearby to do so. Inform them about the details of the electric shock incident and provide your location.

3. Check for Responsiveness

Next, assess the victim’s consciousness and breathing. If they are unresponsive or not breathing, begin CPR immediately.

4. Protect Against Shock

After any significant injury, there is a risk of a person going into shock. This is not to be confused with being shocked. Shock is a bodily response to a traumatic injury, and can be life-threatening.

To prevent going into shock, if the victim is conscious and breathing, keep them lying down unless they are short of breath. If they are conscious but having breathing difficulties, you may need to sit them up partially. It also helps to cover them with a blanket to maintain their body temperature.

5. Monitor Vital Signs

While you wait for emergency services, observe the victim’s vital signs, such as breathing and pulse rate. Be prepared to administer CPR if necessary until medical help arrives.

Complete a First Aid Course

Why complete a first aid course? Because you’ll immediately feel more comfortable and confident!

Whether you are an individual working with electricity or simply want to ensure the safety of you and your family in the home, it’s important that you have the knowledge and skills to confidently administer first aid and respond to a medical emergency until professional medical assistance is available.

At Vital First Aid, our qualified first aid trainers are highly skilled and experienced, and all first aid students will receive a First Aid Certificate on completion.

To benefit from our range of first aid courses, sign up here.