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by steveincanton from Canton

Last Post 4 days, 10 hours Ago


Poison On The Left...................
May 6, 2008 | 7:39 PM
Category: News
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This week I saw a news spot on a local tv show where they mentioned what to do if someone has swallowed a poisoness substance!

They were right on the money as far as telling people to call poison control as soon as possible letting them know how much of what product had been swallowed! Poison control will then give you instructions on what to do.

There is one thing not mentioned in the newscast that may be the difference between life and death if done right away! It is so simple and may give you a small window of time til you are able to get the person to the hospital.

Simply lay the person on their left side .........................

By doing this you aid breathing and it slows the progress of the ingested poison circulating within the bloodstream.

I learned this in my EMT classes and I thought  it may be helpful just in case the situation happens to one of your family members.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 9
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jazzbode read my blog view my photos
May 7, 2008 | 1:12 PM

I never saw that written in any EMT book. If they are having trouble breathing, it should be position of comfort. Recovery position if unconscious.
steveincanton read my blog view my photos
May 7, 2008 | 6:45 PM

Its firstaid 101!
hahnmeister read my blog
May 7, 2008 | 9:57 PM

Would hanging them upside down help even more then to prevent digestion?
hahnmeister read my blog
May 7, 2008 | 9:58 PM

Or how about just giving them tons of epsom salt (forcing them to puke it up)?
sknymnie view my photos
May 8, 2008 | 12:34 AM

I've heard about it's best for pregnant women to lay on their left side, never heard anything about laying on the left after drinking poision.
hahnmeister read my blog
May 8, 2008 | 5:08 AM

Unless of course you are one of 8000 people who has Situs Inversus, in which case you should lay on your right...
jazzbode read my blog view my photos
May 8, 2008 | 1:44 PM

Who wrote First Aid 101? As a respiratory therapist, RN, and paramedic and EMT instructor, I am requesting you quote your resource, not just some dude, or something you thought you said heard in EMT class, please.
harleybabe read my blog
May 8, 2008 | 2:02 PM

I have taken the first responder class 15 times and never heard that. The poison was to call poison control hot line for instructions. I don't think it would hurt to put the person on their side is they were sick and had to lay down. I'm looking in my book that is supplied to me from the Red Cross and it say to call poison control imediately with the bottel of poison in hand. I would question how this could help.
jazzbode read my blog view my photos
May 8, 2008 | 6:02 PM

The only reason EMTs were ever taught to lay people on their Left side was to monitor airway. Think about how most ambulances are set up-- If they lay on their right side, they are facing the wall. Left side, they face the bench, where the EMT can sit and watch the patient.
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steveincanton

Im a Emergency Medical Technician and in the last year I worked to pass a law to make it mandatory for all ambulances in the State of Michigan to carry Heart Defibrillators!!! In 2005 only around 20% of private ambulances carried them!!! Because I passed the law several organizations have me on a job black list and will not hire me!!! It doesnt matter because I recently became an EMT to save lives and by having Defibrillators on all ambulances many lives will be saved!!! In my spare time I also collect unusual antique stuff and I have a large Faygo collection dating back to 1921!!!

Member Since: 4/13/2007


 

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