There are two types of swallowed poisons –corrosive and noncorrosive – and there are different first aid treatment procedures to be followed for each. 
Examples of corrosive poisons and noncorrosive poisons are as follows:
Common Household Poisons
Some household products are nontoxic. They do not produce symptoms when ingested. However, no chemical agent is entirely safe. The amount ingested plays a vital role in determining whether an ingested chemical is toxic or not. Common symptoms of household poison ingestion are:
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pain, and
- diarrhea.
*Neurological symptoms like convulsions are usually manifested when large amounts are ingested.
Common Corrosive Poisons include:
alkaline/disc batteries, antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate, denture cleaning aids like whitening tablets, bath soap/liquid soap, hair conditioner and shampoo, household cleaning agents like clothes and dishwashing detergents and fabric conditions, disinfectants and deodorizers, bleaching agents, drain and pipe cleaners, water purifying tablets, toilet bowl cleaners, oven cleaners and floor wax and carpet shampoo, petrol/flammable products like paint thinner and other pain products, kerosene, varnish.
Common Non-corrosive Poisons include:
alcohol, ammonia, antiseptics like iodine, mercurochrome, povidone-iodine solution; camphor-containing products like those found in liniments, vapor rubs, cough drops, inhalers, decongestant nasal sprays; cosmetics like hair sprays, hair straighteners, hair dyes, make-up, nail polish, cuticle removers; dental products like mouthwashes, breath fresheners; some medicines; concentrated essential oils like eucalyptus, pine, turpentine oils; mothballs and naphthalene balls; insect repellants, deodorizers, insecticides/pesticides.
Unconscious victim:
If the victim is unconscious, suspect poisoning if you see bottles or containers of the substances enumerated under corrosive and noncorrosive listings lying nearby. t/he first thing to do is to call an ambulance or rush the victim to the hospital. Put him in the recovery position on the back seat of the car.
Conscious victim:
Ask the victim what he took (while waiting for the ambulance
If victim ingested corrosive poison:
- Give him eggwhite. This will coat his stomach lining, preventing further irritation. Do not give milk. If he took bleaching agent, do the same thing.
- Flush his mouth with olive oil to remove all traces of the poison. If there is none, use running water.
- Do not induce vomiting, as the corrosive substance will do more damage.
Noncorrosive poison:
- If he is sure of what he took and it was a noncorrosive poison, induce vomiting by sticking two fingers at the back of his throat.
- If nothing comes out when he retches, make him drink a glass or two of water and induce vomiting again.
Unconscious victim:
Burns around the lips and in the mouth is a sign of corrosive poisoning.
- If the victim is breathing, put him in RECOVERY POISION.
- If he is not breathing but there is a pulse, perform artificial respiration but not mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
- Lay him face down with his head turned to one side, arms bent, hands together and head resting on the hands.
- Kneel on one knee facing his head, with one foot by his elbow.
- Place your hands on each side of his back just below the shoulder blades, with the thumbs almost touching.
- Keeping your arms straight, press down firmly for about 2 seconds, then release.
- Hold his arms close to the elbows and lean back, pulling his arms upwards until you feel resistance at his shoulders, then release them.
- Repeat the procedure until the victim starts to breathe.
- If he is not breathing, and there is no pulse, do CPR.
Take with you to the hospital any bottles or containers that you may find near the victim.
