The first step when you suspect a poisoning is to make sure the person is safe and responsive, then immediately call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. This free, 24/7 hotline connects you to your local poison center, where a specialist will walk you through exactly what to do. If the person is unconscious, having a seizure, or not breathing, skip the hotline and call 911 instead.
What you do in the first few minutes depends on how the poisoning happened. The actions for something swallowed are different from something inhaled or splashed on the skin. Here’s how to respond for each situation.
Swallowed Poison or Medication
For the most common type of poisoning, swallowing a harmful substance or too much medication, the single most important step is calling Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. Don’t try to make the person vomit. Syrup of ipecac, once a medicine cabinet staple, is no longer recommended. Clinical reviews have found no convincing evidence that inducing vomiting improves outcomes, and it can actually interfere with treatments that work better.
While you wait to speak with a specialist (or before you call), grab the container or bottle of whatever was swallowed. Having it in hand lets you give the poison center the exact product name, ingredients, and strength, which dramatically speeds up their recommendations.
Inhaled Poison (Fumes, Gas, or Smoke)
If someone has breathed in toxic fumes, getting them to fresh air is the priority, but your own safety comes first. Alert others before entering the area. If you can safely reach the person, open windows and doors to ventilate the space. Take several deep breaths of clean air, hold your breath, and hold a wet cloth over your nose and mouth as you go in. Do not light a match or lighter, because some gases are flammable.
Once the person is in fresh air, check whether they’re breathing normally and responsive. If they’re not breathing or have no pulse, begin CPR. Even if they seem fine afterward, call the Poison Help line or seek medical attention. Some inhaled toxins cause delayed symptoms that aren’t immediately obvious.
Poison on the Skin
Remove any clothing the substance touched right away. Bag it separately so it doesn’t contaminate other surfaces or people. Then rinse the affected skin under running water for 15 to 20 minutes. If the chemical feels oily or sticky, use a mild soap, then rinse thoroughly with plain water. After decontaminating, call Poison Help for further guidance.
Poison in the Eyes
Rinse the affected eye with clean running water for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Tilt the person’s head toward the side of the injured eye so contaminated water doesn’t flow into the other eye. Have them move their eye in all directions while rinsing to help flush the chemical from every surface. Rinse one eye at a time if both are affected. Then call Poison Help. For severe chemical burns, hospital-based guidelines recommend even longer irrigation (30 minutes or more), but starting the rinse immediately at home is what matters most.
When to Call 911 Instead
The Poison Help line handles the vast majority of cases, and many can be safely managed at home with their guidance. But certain signs mean the situation is a medical emergency requiring paramedics:
- The person is unconscious or difficult to wake
- They’re having a seizure
- They’ve stopped breathing or are struggling to breathe
- They’re unresponsive after exposure to an unknown substance
In these situations, call 911 first. You can still call Poison Help afterward, and the two services can coordinate care.
What to Have Ready When You Call
Poison control specialists need specific details to give you accurate advice. Before or while dialing, try to gather the following:
- The substance involved: product name, medication name, or a description of the plant, chemical, or item
- The person’s age and weight
- How the exposure happened: swallowed, inhaled, skin contact, or eye splash
- How much was involved: number of pills missing, amount of liquid gone, duration of exposure
- When it happened: even an approximate time helps
- Current symptoms: how the person looks and feels right now
- Relevant medical history: ongoing conditions or medications
- A callback number: the center may follow up to check on the person
You don’t need all of this to call. Don’t delay reaching out because you’re missing a detail. The specialist will ask you what they need.
Online Triage Tools
If the person is alert, showing no symptoms, and the ingestion wasn’t intentional self-harm, a free tool called webPOISONCONTROL (available as an app or at webpoisoncontrol.org) can provide automated triage. You enter the substance name, the amount, and the person’s age and weight. The tool then gives a specific recommendation: stay home, go to the emergency department, or call poison control for further guidance. It’s designed to supplement the phone line, not replace it. For any situation involving serious symptoms, an unknown substance, or a child who’s acting differently than normal, calling 1-800-222-1222 directly is the safer choice.