Sometimes it can happen that someone accidentally drinks some gasoline while trying to pour it from the tank. This is an unpleasant experience, which could create a bit of panic; however, with proper care, there is no need to rush to the hospital. However, if the victim has ingested large quantities of fuel, then the situation is serious; 30 ml is enough to intoxicate an adult and less than 15 ml to kill a child. Be very careful when rescuing someone who has drunk gasoline and never induce vomiting. If you have any doubts or are worried, immediately call your region's poison control center or 911.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Helping a Person Who Drank Low Gasoline
Step 1. Stay calm with the victim so that they too can reassure them
Reassure her that people sometimes ingest small amounts of gasoline and that they are usually fine. Encourage her to breathe deeply, calm down, and relax.
Step 2. Don't cause her to throw up the gasoline. Small amounts of fuel create little damage to the stomach, but if even tiny drops are inhaled from the lungs, then serious breathing problems are triggered. During rejection there is a high chance that the person will inhale gasoline to the lungs and this is an event that must be avoided.
If the victim vomits spontaneously, help him by tilting him forward to prevent inhalation. Have her rinse her mouth with water after throwing up and contact the poison control center and 911 immediately
Step 3. Offer her a glass of water or juice to drink once she has rinsed her mouth
Ask her to take a slow sip to keep her from choking or coughing. If she has lost consciousness or is unable to drink on her own, then don't give her any liquid and call for help immediately.
- Do not make her drink the milk, unless advised by the operator of the poison control center; this is important, because milk accelerates the body's absorption of gasoline.
- The same goes for fizzy drinks, because they induce belching and could make the situation worse.
- Do not make her drink alcohol for the next 24 hours.
Step 4. Call the poison control center in your region and explain the situation to the operator
In Italy there are some specialized centers, on this site you will find a list. If the victim is very ill, coughing, having difficulty breathing, drowsy, nauseous, vomiting, or has other severe symptoms, call the ambulance without delay.
Step 5. Help the subject clean up any gasoline on their skin
You should take off his fuel-stained clothes, set them aside, and rinse his skin with water only for 2-3 minutes. In the end, help him wash with a mild soap, rinse thoroughly and dry.
Step 6. Make sure you don't smoke for the first 72 hours and don't smoke when you are around him
Gasoline and its vapors are highly flammable and could start a fire; cigarette smoke may also worsen any lung damage caused by fuel.
Step 7. Reassure the individual about belching the vapors
This is a normal consequence, which could last for 24 hours or even several days. You should drink plenty of fluids to feel some relief and to speed up the process of getting gasoline out of your body.
If he starts to feel sick, take him to the emergency room immediately for examination
Step 8. Wash all gasoline-soiled clothing
Soaked and stained clothing can cause a fire and should be exposed to the air, outdoors, for at least 24 hours, to dry completely and allow toxic fumes to evaporate before washing. Wash them separately in hot water. Add ammonia or baking soda to get rid of gasoline residue. Finally, hang them out in the open air to dry them and check that the smell has dissipated; if necessary, wash them again.
Do not put clothes that smell of petrol in the dryer, as they could burn
Part 2 of 2: Helping a Person Who Drank A Lot of Gasoline
Step 1. Remove the gas can from the victim
Your first concern is to make sure the subject does not ingest any more fuel. If he is unconscious, read the third step directly.
Step 2. If the victim is a child, it is always an emergency, regardless of the amount of gasoline ingested
If you suspect your child has been drinking fuel but don't know the amount, treat the situation as an emergency; take him to the emergency room or call an ambulance.
Step 3. Call 118
Explain the situation to the operator giving as much detail as you can. If the person involved is a child, stress that you need immediate assistance.
Step 4. Check the victim carefully
If she is conscious, reassure her that help is on the way and don't make her throw up. If you think she can drink, offer her a glass of water and help her remove dirty clothes and wash her fuel-covered skin.
If she starts throwing up, help her lean forward or turn her head to the side to keep her from choking or sucking in gasoline
Step 5. If she stops breathing, coughing, or moving and doesn't respond to your call, start CPR immediately
Lie the victim on his back and start with chest compressions. For each squeeze, press the center of her chest, lowering the breastbone 5 cm or at least 1/3 or 1/2 of the thickness of the chest. Perform 30 quick compressions at a rate of 100 per minute. Then tilt your head back and lift her chin. Close her nose and blow into her mouth, until you notice her chest rising. Give two breaths of at least one second each followed by another set of compressions.
- Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and two breaths until the victim regains consciousness or help arrives.
- If you are on the phone with 118, the operator will guide you through the whole CPR procedure.
- The Red Cross currently recommends CPR on children just like adults, except when dealing with infants or very young children; in this case the depth of the compressions should not be 5 cm, but 3.7 cm.
Advice
These instructions can be applied when the liquid in question is petroleum, benzene or gasoline
Warnings
- Do not induce the victim to vomit, as this could cause further damage.
- Put away always gasoline in a safe container, clearly labeled and out of the reach of children.
- Do not keep never gasoline in a beverage container, such as an old water bottle.
- Do not drinking never voluntarily the gasoline, for no reason.
- Do not suck up the gasoline with a hose using your mouth. Get a suitable pump or use the air pressure.
