Medical Emergencies
People with symptoms of pesticide poisoning must be attended to immediately. Prompt treatment may mean the difference between life and death. Remember that first aid treatment is not a substitute for medical treatment, but it can sustain a patient or prevent further complications until medical help is available.
First aid procedures to follow in poisoning emergencies.
- Protect yourself from exposure. Use personal protective equipment. You cannot help if you also become ill.
- Prevent additional pesticide exposure. Move the victim from the area of contamination and remove any contaminated clothing.
- Check if the victim is breathing. If the person is unconscious, convulsing or having problems breathing, call 911 and obtain medical help as fast as possible.
- If breathing has stopped or is very weak, clear the airway and begin artificial respiration. Continue until the victim is breathing normally or until medical help arrives.
- When doing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, use a plastic face mask to protect yourself from poisoning.
- First aid and CPR courses teach correct methods of artificial respiration.
- Call the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 1-800-567-8911
- Inform medical personnel of: the pesticide name, active ingredient and PCP Act registration number. Also, when the victim was poisoned, the type of exposure and poisoning symptoms.
- Carefully follow all instructions of the Poison Information Centre or 911.
- Unless the doctor or Poison Information Centre tells you otherwise, follow the procedures below.
- Keep the patient at rest, warm and comfortable.
- Continue all necessary first aid treatment, such as CPR or monitoring signs of stress. Do not leave the patient alone.
- Get someone else to arrange transportation to the Emergency Department of the nearest hospital.