Keep Kids and Pets Safe

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.

  1. Protect yourself from exposure. Use personal protective equipment. You cannot help if you also become ill.
  2. Prevent additional pesticide exposure. Move the victim from the area of contamination and remove any contaminated clothing.
  3. 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.
  4. Call the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 1-800-567-8911
  5. 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.
  6. Carefully follow all instructions of the Poison Information Centre or 911.
  7. 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.
Back