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Poisoning

Call 112 and the AIIMS Poisons Centre 1800 116 117. Do not induce vomiting.

criticalHIGH-CONFIDENCE GUIDANCEReviewed 2026-08-18
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RECOGNIZE

  • An open container, spilled chemical, missing tablets, or a smell of chemicals near the person.
  • Burns or staining around the mouth, drooling, vomiting.
  • Drowsiness, confusion, fits, difficulty breathing, pinpoint pupils, excessive sweating or salivation.
  • Sudden collapse in an agricultural or storage area suggests pesticide exposure.

CALL

  • Call 112 for drowsiness, fits, breathing difficulty, collapse or any life-threatening symptom.
  • Call the National Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS — 1800 116 117 — 24×7 for advice on the specific substance.
  • Do not wait for symptoms if a significant poisoning is suspected.
1800 116 117National Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS — 24×7

DO NOW

  1. 1MAKE THE AREA SAFEMove the person to fresh air if fumes are involved, only if it is safe for you.
  2. 2CALL 112 FOR SERIOUS SYMPTOMSDrowsy, fitting, breathless or unresponsive — call 112 now.
  3. 3CALL THE POISONS CENTRENational Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS — 1800 116 117, available 24×7.
  4. 4DO NOT MAKE THEM VOMITNever induce vomiting unless a poison specialist or doctor specifically tells you to.
  5. 5KEEP THE CONTAINERSave the bottle, packet or label safely and note the time, amount and route of exposure.
  6. 6WATCH BREATHINGIf they become unresponsive, place them on their side; if breathing is abnormal, start CPR.

DO NOT DO

  • DO NOT induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by poison specialists.
  • DO NOT give milk, salt water, ghee, or any home antidote.
  • DO NOT give food or drink unless instructed.
  • DO NOT enter a confined space filled with fumes without protection.
  • DO NOT wait to see if symptoms develop after a significant exposure.

WHILE WAITING FOR HELP

  • Keep the person on their side if drowsy, and stay with them.
  • Have the container and your notes ready for the ambulance crew.
  • Keep other people and children away from the substance.
  • Follow exactly what the poisons centre tells you.

WHEN TO ESCALATE

  • Seizures, unresponsiveness or breathing difficulty → call 112 immediately.
  • Not breathing normally → Cardiac Arrest flow.

AFTERCARE

  • Store chemicals, pesticides and medicines locked away and never in drink bottles.
  • Keep medicines in original labelled packaging out of children's reach.

Special cases

Swallowed poison
  • Wipe out any remaining substance from the mouth if it is safe.
  • Do not induce vomiting; corrosives cause more damage coming back up.
  • Call the poisons centre with the exact product name.
Inhaled poison (smoke, gas, fumes)
  • Get everyone into fresh air and open doors and windows from outside if possible.
  • Do not enter the space yourself if the air is unsafe.
  • Call 112 — inhaled poisons can worsen for hours.
Skin exposure
  • Wear gloves, remove contaminated clothing, and rinse the skin with plenty of clean running water for at least 20 minutes.
  • Do not scrub the skin.
Eye exposure
  • Irrigate the eye with clean running water or saline for at least 20 minutes, holding the eyelids open.
  • Emergency eye care is required.
Medicine overdose
  • Collect all packets and count what is missing.
  • Call 112 and the poisons centre even if the person seems well — paracetamol and some other overdoses cause delayed damage.
Pesticide exposure
  • Common in agricultural India and often severe. Remove contaminated clothing while protecting yourself.
  • Wash the skin with plenty of water and soap, and move the person to fresh air.
  • Call 112 immediately — pesticide poisoning needs hospital treatment fast.
MEDICAL SOURCES

  • AIIMS New Delhi

    National Poisons Information Centre — 24x7 helpline 1800 116 117

    Published / updated 2024 · Evidence reviewed for this app on 2026-08-18

  • National Centre for Disease Control / MoHFW, India

    Standard Treatment Guidelines — Acute Poisoning

    Published / updated 2021 · Evidence reviewed for this app on 2026-08-18

  • Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

    Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) — 112 pan-India emergency number

    Published / updated 2019 · Evidence reviewed for this app on 2026-08-18

    Open source

This content is educational first-aid guidance and does not replace emergency medical care. Guidelines can change. Verify clinical guidance periodically.

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