What to do if your little one gets poisoned? Let's be aware of this!

Oh, these complications are something that can happen at any time when there is a small child in the house. It is very scary to think about, isn't it? But if we are well aware of this, we can do the necessary things quickly without panicking. Most of the time, these kinds of things happen to little ones at home. While some complications can be managed at home, with medical advice, some cases can be serious enough to require emergency medical treatment. So, let's talk about this today.

What are the symptoms of poisoning? Be careful!

A child may show a variety of symptoms when they are having a seizure. If you see one or more of these, you should be concerned. Not all symptoms are visible at all times, and it's important to remember that.

• Sleepiness, lethargy: If the child seems to just fall asleep, is difficult to wake up, or just seems lethargic, that could be a sign. For example, if a child who was playing well during the day suddenly falls asleep, it would be suspicious.
• Sudden change in behavior: If you notice a big change in your child's behavior, such as a child who used to laugh and run around suddenly becoming angry, crying, or very calm, you should also pay attention to that. They may become agitated or very quiet.
• A strange odor: If your child's mouth, breath, body, or clothing smells strange and unusual (for example, like kerosene, medicine, or chemicals), that could also be a sign of a problem.
• Pills, powder, or other objects on the lips, around the mouth, or on the clothes: If you see pills, powder, or strange-colored liquids on the child's lips, inside the mouth, or on the clothes, you may suspect that the child has put something in their mouth.
• Excessive salivation: If more saliva than normal flows from the mouth, it is also a symptom that can be seen in some cases.
• Vomiting: If you suddenly vomit for no reason, and if the vomit contains pieces of medicine, has a strange color, or has a strong odor, be concerned.
• Confusion: If the child is unable to recognize where they are or who they are with, doesn't respond properly to what you ask, or simply acts as if they are not conscious, that is also a serious symptom.

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, you should take action without delay.

What should I do if my child has symptoms of a seizure? Don't panic and do these things!

Okay, now if you have any doubts about your child, if you find out that he has ingested something that you think is poisonous, what should you do? There are two possibilities here.

First instance: The child is conscious, normal, and has no difficulty breathing.

Imagine that your child has ingested something that you think is poisonous (e.g., a pill or two, a little bit of cleaning fluid), but he is fully conscious, acting normally, playing, and has no difficulty breathing.

Don't panic at a time like this, but it's imperative to seek medical advice immediately.

• If you can, call the National Poisons Information Centre in Sri Lanka. Their phone number is 0112686143. It is very important to have this number written down somewhere. They will ask you for details (what the child has taken, size, age, weight, current symptoms, etc.) and tell you exactly what to do. They may tell you things you can do at home, or tell you to go to the hospital immediately.
• Otherwise, you can immediately take the child to the nearest hospital or to your family doctor. The doctors can then assess the situation and do what is necessary.
• Most importantly: Be sure to bring anything you think your child may have ingested (a medicine bottle, a pill, a bottle of liquid, or even a part of a plant). This will be a great help to the doctors in their treatment.

Second stage: The child's behavior is unusual, he loses consciousness, has seizures, and has difficulty breathing.

Now imagine that you suspect that your child has taken poison, and their behavior suddenly changes dramatically, they become very sleepy, pass out, have seizures, or have difficulty breathing.

This is an emergency! Don't waste any time!

• Call 1990 immediately and call the Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service. Otherwise, take the child to a major hospital's Emergency Room / Accident Service as soon as you can.
• Do not induce vomiting in a child for any reason! Some poisons (e.g. acid, kerosene, etc.) can be more harmful if they are vomited up. Therefore, do not induce vomiting until a doctor tells you to. Do not give syrup of Ipecac, which was used in the past.
• If the child seems unconscious, turn them on their side. This way, if they spit or vomit, it will come out of the mouth instead of going into the lungs.
• Be sure to take anything you think your child may have ingested (a medicine bottle, a liquid bottle, anything that you think might be poisonous) to the hospital. This will help doctors quickly decide what kind of poison it is and what treatment to give.

What can we do to protect our little ones from harm? Let's take care of these things!

There is a saying that "prevention is always better than cure." That is absolutely true for these solutions. There are many things we can do to protect our young children from such dangers.

• Keep all medicines in the house, even vitamins, out of reach of children, either in locked cupboards or in a high place where they cannot reach them. Some pills and syrups are very colorful and look like sweets. Children may think that they are edible. For example, what if a little grandchild gets hold of his grandmother's blood pressure and diabetes pills and puts them in his mouth? Imagine what will happen. So be very careful about this.
• Cleaning products – for example, bleach, acid, floor cleaners, insecticides – as well as mosquito repellent, kerosene, and alcohol should never be kept in places where children can get hold of them. Keep these locked away or high up where they can't reach them. Sometimes these come in colorful bottles, so children are tempted to pick them up and put them in their mouths.
• Dispose of used button cell batteries properly. Keep new ones out of reach of children. These small, shiny batteries are found in remote controls, toys, and some music cards. They are very dangerous if swallowed. They can cause serious damage to the throat or stomach within a few hours. Therefore, immediately after use, throw them in the trash out of reach of children. Keep new batteries in the same package and keep them in a safe place.
• Never, for any reason, tell a young child, "This medicine tastes like chocolate" or "This tastes like juice." When you say that, they will think it is food or drink. If they catch it while you are away, they may sneak it in and try to eat it. When giving medicine, always say, "This is medicine that will make you feel better."
• This is a serious mistake that many people make: Never store potentially toxic substances such as cleaning fluids, pesticides, or kerosene in bottles that have previously contained food or drink (e.g., water bottles, soft drink bottles). Not only children, but sometimes adults can drink these without even realizing it. Imagine what would happen if you put a little kerosene in a water bottle and left it in the kitchen, and someone drank it, calling it water! Always store these things in the original bottles they came in, with the label attached.
• Never leave rodent poisons or insecticide baits on the ground where children can easily reach them. These sometimes come in the form of colored pellets or biscuits, which can be easily swallowed by children, mistaking them for food.
• Be aware of the ornamental plants in your home. There are some types of indoor and garden plants whose leaves, flowers, and fruits can be poisonous. If a small child puts these in their mouth, it can cause problems. Therefore, check for such plants in places where children can reach them. If in doubt, it is best to remove them.
• Be careful with guests' bags and handbags. Sometimes, guests' bags may contain things like medicines and cosmetics. When small children are curious and pull these out, they can get caught and put them in their mouths. Therefore, when guests arrive, kindly ask them to put their bags in a place where they cannot reach them.

Remember, when there are small children around , even a minute of carelessness can lead to a big accident. So always be aware of your surroundings.

Shall we remind ourselves of what we talked about? (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so let's review the most important things we talked about today.

1. Prevention is best: Keep all household items, such as medicines, cleaning products, pesticides, and batteries, in safe places where small children cannot reach them. This means in locked cupboards or on upper floors.

2. Recognize the signs of a seizure: Watch for signs such as drowsiness, sudden changes in behavior, a strange odor, vomiting, and confusion.

3. Take action immediately:

• If the child is conscious and well, call the National Poisons Information Centre (0112686143) or see a doctor immediately.
• If the child's condition is serious (loss of consciousness, convulsions, difficulty breathing), immediately call 1990 and call an ambulance or take them to a hospital quickly.

4. Do not induce vomiting (without medical advice): In some types of poisoning, inducing vomiting can make the condition worse.

5. Take the poisoned item with you: Take the item (medicine bottle, packet) that you suspect the child may have ingested to the hospital. This is extremely important for treatment.

6. Don't leave children alone: ​​Always keep an eye on them, especially young children, when they are playing or doing homework.

Your awareness, your attention, and the quick action you take are the greatest strength you have to save your beloved child from such a danger. Don't be afraid, if you keep these points in mind, you can face anything.

` Poisoning, poisoning in children, poisoning, child poisoning, symptoms of poisoning, prevention of poisoning, emergency treatment, National Poisons Information Centre Sri Lanka, 1990 Suwa Seriya