(d)
If the patient's body temperature is very high, cover him with a
cooling blanket.
(e) Give Vitamin K or prothrombin to allow the blood to clot normally
again.
d. Ethel Alcohol. Ethel alcohol is the alcohol we commonly drink. In sufficient
quantities, it can be a poison.
(1) Signs/symptoms of ethyl alcohol poisoning. This type of poisoning can
cause vomiting (sometimes with blood) and stomach pains, a drop in body temperature,
confusion, and disorientation.
(2)
Treatment of ethyl alcohol poisoning.
(a) Perform gastric lavage (washing out of the stomach by means of a
gastric tube).
(b) Maintain the patient's airway.
(c)
Keep the patient warm.
e. Methyl Alcohol. Methyl alcohol, sometimes called "wood alcohol," is a highly
poisonous substance. As little as one teaspoonful can cause permanent blindness.
(1) Signs/symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning. Symptoms do not begin to
appear until a day after the methyl alcohol is ingested. Headache, dizziness, a feeling
of ill health, severe stomach pains, nausea and vomiting, and loss of appetite occur.
The patient experiences various visual difficulties, and a "drunken" appearance followed
by weakness, convulsions, and coma.
Treatment of methyl alcohol poisoning.
(2)
(a) If the person is alert and awake, administer syrup of ipecac to
cause vomiting. DO NOT cause vomiting if the person is drowsy or unconscious.
Repeat the dose of ipecac one more time if the patient does not vomit in 20 or 30
minutes.
(b) Give the patient a dose of activated charcoal after he has vomited.
(c)
Offer other supportive measures as necessary.
f. Petroleum. Petroleum is found in products such as kerosene, lighter fluid,
gasoline, furniture polish, and turpentine. Intratracheal toxicity is 100 times as great as
oral toxicity. Aspiration of chemicals will almost certainly lead to pulmonary
complications.
MD0581
4-11
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