Do this now
- Call 911 if the person is unconscious, very sleepy, having trouble breathing, or having a seizure.
- Otherwise, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, or get help online at poison.org.
- Remove anything left in their mouth, and have them spit it out.
- Don’t make them throw up, and don’t give anything to eat or drink unless Poison Control tells you to.
- Keep the container so you can read the label to the expert.
- The person is unconscious, very drowsy, or hard to wake
- Trouble breathing, or breathing has stopped
- A seizure
- The person swallowed a strong chemical and is drooling, vomiting, or can’t swallow
- A child may have swallowed a button battery and is drooling, vomiting, coughing, or having trouble breathing or swallowing
What to tell Poison Control
- What was swallowed — read the label, or describe the pill or plant
- How much, and when
- The person’s age and weight
- Any symptoms
You don’t have to wait for symptoms to call. Many calls can be handled safely at home with expert advice, saving a trip to the ER.
Button batteries
Button batteries (small, round, coin-sized batteries) can cause serious burns inside the body in as little as 2 hours. Go to the emergency room right away, even if the child seems fine. Don’t make the child throw up.
Honey on the way: if the child is 1 year or older, can swallow, and swallowed the battery within the last 12 hours, Poison Control advises giving 2 teaspoons (10 mL) of honey every 10 minutes, up to 6 doses, while you travel to the ER. Use it only if you have honey on hand. Never delay going to the ER to give honey, and don’t give any other food or drink. For expert advice, call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 1-800-498-8666 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Other poisoning
- On the skin: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
- In the eyes: Rinse with lukewarm water for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Breathed in: Get to fresh air right away.
See the full poisoning guide.