The biggest sources of danger in the home include medicines, cigarettes and cleaning products. Foaming substances such as shampoo and dishwashing detergent irritate the mucous membranes and trigger vomiting. Foam can get into the airways and damage the lungs. Internal and external chemical burns can involve special cleaners such as oven cleaner. Substances such as gasoline, nitro thinner, white spirit and petroleum can cause vomiting and severe pneumonia, and even small amounts of antifreeze can cause kidney damage. In addition to spirits, perfumes, some cosmetics and cough syrups are also sources of danger for children. To protect against this type of poisoning, medicines and household chemicals should always be kept out of the reach of children and, ideally, kept under lock and key.
In addition to the household, the plant world also plays an important role in poisoning. It is often so-called alkaloids that are responsible for the toxicity of the plant and usually serve as protection for the plant against pests. Diarrhea, vomiting, nerve irritation, breathing problems and cramp-like abdominal pain are common symptoms of plant poisoning. Some plants also have corrosive substances in the plant sap. With very poisonous plants, even a small amount is often enough to cause serious or fatal poisoning. Deadly nightshade, daphne, blue monkshood, autumn crocus, water hemlock, henbane, datura and yew are among the very poisonous plants, to name just a few. The poisonous plants include, among others, the runner bean, coral cherry, azaleas, chestnut, arum, ivy, red foxglove, mayflower, sade tree, holly, laburnum, Hercules herb, imperial crown, cherry laurel, opium poppy and lantana. However, some plants can be used cooked or processed, others are poisonous when unripe and many contain poisonous parts such as seeds, berries, herbs or leaves.
If an emergency occurs despite all precautions, the substances that led to the poisoning should be secured as far as possible so that a doctor or poison center employee can identify the toxins and initiate appropriate treatment. As soon as poisoning is suspected, the most important thing is to remain calm. Under no circumstances should you induce rapid vomiting by using milk or salt, as this can lead to further burns to the esophagus. Water and tea are recommended for drinking. Defoamers and medical charcoal could be advisable. Defoamers are always appropriate if foaming cleaning agents have been swallowed. Medical charcoal quickly and reliably binds toxins in the stomach. A big advantage of both remedies is that the effects of the toxic substance cannot be made worse under any circumstances. If symptoms are severe, you should call an emergency doctor immediately, or if in doubt, the poison control center.
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