Why do they tell you not to induce vomiting when you inhale or ingest chemicals or toxic vapors??

Question

What would happen if you do?? They tell you to drink alot of milk or water and if vomiting ocurrs spontaineously, seek medical attention immediatly. Just curious

Dont worry I have'nt ingested anything I'm at work and reading OSHA material and was curious to see what answers I would get. Thanks to all who answer.

Answer 1

Most of the time you are told not to induce vomiting for two basic reasons.

1) if the chemical or substance causes damage going down and may cause additional irritation, that when mixed with stomach acid can cause such severe irritation to the esophagus that it begins ot swell shut, unless EMS is nearby to initiate an airway it can prove to be fatal.

2) The vomit can block the airway of an unconscious patient, or the vomit can be aspirated and cause irritation and infection in the lungs.

Inducing vomiting after exposure to toxic vapors won't do anything to reduce the poison as vomiting does not clear the lungs, but it could make matters worse by making it more difficult to breathe due to the contractions of the diaphragm during vomiting. The body is designed not to breathe when vomiting to reduce the chances of aspirating stomach acid, if ones ability to breathe well is compromised by exposure to vapors the results could be fatal.

Answer 2

It depends on the chemicals. Some can do as much damage on the way up as they did on the way down, so vomiting would be more harmful than neutralizing them in your stomach. Milk or water helps some things, but it's important to read the label on whatever it was you drank and follow those directions, because everything is a little different. If you can't find the bottle, or the label has fallen off, dial 911 and ask for the nearest poison control center.

Answer 3

There is a simple rule of thumb about ingested poisons and toxins. IF IT CAUSED DAMAGE GOING DOWN, IT WILL CAUSE EVEN MORE DAMAGE COMING BACK UP.

Anything petroleum need to be neutralized immediately... you can break up regular charcoal briquettes from the grill if necessary, but charcoal and milk are 2 excellent ways to bind or neutralize the poison long enough to get the person to the nearest emergency room AND TAKE THE CONTAINER WITH YOU.

Answer 4

It's because some chemicals are corrosive, meaning they burn. So if you were to swallow one of these, it would already have burned your GI tract on the way down. If you vomit, the acid in your stomach plus the chemical would only burn the area again. The milk/water will dilute any chemicals you've ingested and keep it from burning your stomach so much.

Answer 5

Because the chemicals have done damage to your throat going down and will be doing damage again coming back up plus once the chemicals hit you stomach they are already in your blood stream the damage is already done you will just be making things worse just call the poison control line and the EMS

Answer 6

Chemicals burn the esaphogus when going down, and by vomiting, your esophagus is being exposed 2 times instead of just once. Milk is to help neutralize any acidity the chemical may have, and water is to water it down so it's not so potent.

Answer 7

Depends on chemical to chemical. If its corrosive material like acid or alkali, vomitting may double up the insult to esophagus. strong corrossive may even rupture the stomach or esophagus. For other chemical like kerosene etc. its aspiration of toxic chemical in lungs that may occure leading to aspirational pneumonia.

Answer 8

certain cleaners and chemicals come with a warning not to induce vomiting because they do more damage to the throat then they are poisonous. Sending the chemical back through your throat just does more damage, but if your gonna puke your gonna puke. I guess you should at least try not to

Answer 9

what goes in goes out.

so inducing vomiting will put further stress on the respiratory systems and its associated organs.

the lungs the bronchials the esophagus and the like.

milk is suggested to help neutralize and buffer the toxins.

immediately call 911 if you or anyone in your surrounding has been exposed to such toxins

Answer 10

The toxic nature may do more damage to your esophagus coming back up. It may have damaged it already, going down. That is why they suggest you dilute it with water or milk, a lot, quickly. It will do less damage if it is diluted.