Poisoning: What Counts as a Poison and What to Do

A poison is any substance that harms the body. It can be swallowed, breathed in, injected or absorbed through the skin, and any substance can be poisonous in a large enough amount.

Common poisons

• prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken in too high a dose;
• overdoses of illegal drugs;
• carbon monoxide from gas appliances;
• household products, such as laundry powder or furniture polish;
• pesticides;
• indoor and outdoor plants;
• metals such as lead and mercury.

The effects range from a short illness to brain damage, coma and death.

Prevention

• Use and store products exactly as their labels say.
• Keep dangerous products where children cannot reach them.

If you suspect poisoning

Treatment depends on the poison. If you think someone has been poisoned, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 straight away.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Poisoning." https://medlineplus.gov/poisoning.html
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.