Antifreeze and antifreeze are indispensable tools for car owners, as their action is aimed at cooling the engine even in the hottest heat. At the same time, the composition of this liquid, which has a predominantly blue, turquoise hue, is the strongest poison for the human body. It would seem who will drink this chemistry! But cases of antifreeze poisoning are not getting smaller every year. Most often, children and adults come to the hospital who have drunk the substance purposefully in order to reduce their scores. It is inexpedient to talk about what makes people take such steps, it is better to pay attention to the symptoms of antifreeze poisoning and how to provide first aid.
What is dangerous coolant for humans?
Numerous synthetic additives, aqueous solutions and alcohols, dyes and anti-corrosion components - all this makes even antifreeze vapors toxic. When inhaling harmful micro-substances, a negative effect on the brain, liver and kidney cells, and the central nervous system occurs. With prolonged contact with this substance or an excessive concentration of antifreeze in the air, men develop sexual dysfunction, and in women - reproductive system disorders.
Poisoning with antifreeze vapors is a less common reason for contacting a medical institution than intoxication, which develops as a result of swallowing a colored liquid. To start pathological processes for an adult, it is enough to drink 3 tbsp. l substances for death within the next day - a little more than a glass. Disturbances in the body begin to occur immediately after the ingestion of the coolant. In case of poisoning by antifreeze vapors, the symptoms may not appear immediately, and in some cases even disappear without radical therapeutic intervention.
What symptoms occur immediately after swallowing antifreeze?
So, the manifestations of intoxication of the body due to the use of automotive fluid inside can be divided into several stages. Initially, there is a slight malaise, somewhat reminiscent of alcoholic intoxication. It does not last long.
Further, the patient begins to sleep. After 10-12 hours, more pronounced signs of poisoning become noticeable:
- severe headache and dizziness appear;
- coordination of movements is rapidly lost;
- the patient has difficulty maintaining balance and balance;
- double vision or short-term loss of vision;
- unsuccessful attempts to focus on a specific subject;
- muscle cramps occur;
- soreness in the abdominal cavity;
- nausea and vomiting;
- decrease in body temperature;
- decreased blood pressure and chills;
- pallor and blueness of the skin.
What awaits the victim without treatment?
Missing first aid for antifreeze poisoning is a favorable condition for its progression. The next day, as a result of disturbances in nitrogen metabolism, lesions of the viscera (kidneys, liver) are rapidly developing. Daily diuresis is reduced up to anuria, blood may appear in the urine, swelling of the extremities. With a further delay in dangerous toxins in the body, irreversible consequences will occur: uremic coma, the outcome of which is deplorable.
Other signs of antifreeze poisoning may not occur immediately, but only after a few days. "Slow" intoxication is more common when consuming a small amount of engine cooling. In rare cases, latent poisoning does not declare itself for 2-3 weeks. Symptoms of intoxication caused by severe liver damage can indicate the development of deep dystrophic changes in the form of ascites and cirrhosis.
How to provide first aid for antifreeze poisoning?
A person who swallows antifreeze, regardless of age, weight and general well-being, needs emergency medical care. When a small dose of antifreeze is ingested, intoxication symptoms may occur later, but you need to act immediately.
Emergency care is carried out in the following order:
- The patient is washed with a stomach using a 2% soda solution. Prepare it in a ratio of 4 tsp. soda per 1 liter of boiled water, mix thoroughly. If there is no alkali at hand, you can use ordinary water.
- Next, the resulting solution is given to the victim. You need to drink it in the shortest period - for 5-7 minutes.
- After induced artificial vomiting: with two fingers, press on the root of the tongue. Pre-take care of the dishes for collecting vomit.
- In case of poisoning with antifreeze, drunk in large quantities, washing should be repeated. After vomiting is completed, it is important to provide the victim with peace, cover with a warm blanket and continue to drink water in order to avoid the development of renal failure.
Bloodletting with severe intoxication
Before the ambulance arrives, nothing more needs to be done. It is not worth it to look for some medicines on your own and in a panic to give them to the poisoned. Moreover, in order to overcome intoxication, doctors do not prescribe any drugs to the patient, since there is no specific antidote for tosol poisoning. Therapy for antifreeze poisoning is to renew the blood.
First of all, the maximum possible amount of toxic blood is eliminated through its emission through a venous puncture. This technique allows you to quickly free the body from settling in the vessels and long circulating toxic substances. The amount of blood required for normal life is replaced by the donor.
What medicines are used after poisoning?
A further task in the course of treatment is to maintain the work of the affected internal organs and restore their functionality to the full. A correctly drawn up therapeutic regimen will help stop the progression of pathological changes and prevent the irreversible consequences of antifreeze poisoning. In most cases, these drugs are used:
- glucose solution or saline solution is administered intravenously in order to prevent dehydration and maintain kidney function;
- "Korglikon", "Adoniside", "Digoxin" - drugs whose action is aimed at increasing the tone of the heart, restoring its normal contraction, eliminating puffiness.
- "Etymizole", "Cititon" - are necessary to stimulate breathing, eliminate the narcotic effect of ethylene glycol and methanol.
- "Mardil", "Mannitol" - provide the dehydration of toxic fluids from tissues and their output from their body.
- "Phenobarbital", "Clonazepam" - drugs for the relief of attacks of muscle cramps, manifestations of disorders in the nervous system.
As soon as the condition of the victim is stabilized, he is prescribed a course of injections of magnesium sulfate to neutralize the poisonous salts. With increased acidity, sodium bicarbonate is used. In addition to these funds, the patient is also prescribed intake of B vitamins and ascorbic acid.
What to do in case of vapor poisoning or skin contact?
When poisoning with antifreeze by abundant evaporation, as a rule, serious complications do not arise. In case of signs of general malaise, it is important to provide the patient with rest and peace, open the windows and ventilate the room well. Warm plentiful drink, if necessary antipyretic and painkillers are the most effective in this case. In case of contact with skin antifreeze, it is enough to rinse it with cold water, since external contact with antifreeze does not pose the slightest threat to human health.
Alcoholic "therapy": tried by scientists!
It is believed that if the cooler is accidentally swallowed, alcohol will be the best medicine for the victim. How effective is this “antidote” is difficult to say, but scientists from England have already announced the success of the experiments. All cases of poisoning with which they fought with the help of intoxicating drinks ended successfully, without cardinal consequences for the internal organs of the victims. The secret of such treatment is simple - every hour for several sips of strong alcohol (vodka, whiskey, cognac).
The duration of the recovery period after antifreeze poisoning depends on the degree of damage to the body. Observance of basic safety precautions during the use of the substance and elimination of its falling into children's hands will help reduce the likelihood of intoxication.