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 decreasing every year. Most often, children and adults who have drunk the substance purposefully come to the hospital in order to commit suicide. It is inappropriate to talk about what motivates people to take such steps, it is better to pay attention to the symptoms of antifreeze poisoning and first aid methods.
How dangerous is coolant for humans?
Numerous synthetic additives, aqueous solutions and alcohols, dyes and anti-corrosion components - all this makes even antifreeze vapor poisonous. When inhaled, the most harmful microsubstances have a negative effect on the brain, liver and kidney cells, and the central nervous system. With prolonged contact with this substance or an excess concentration of antifreeze in the air, men develop sexual dysfunction,in women - reproductive system disorders.
Poisoning with antifreeze vapor is a less common reason for contacting a medical facility than intoxication, which develops as a result of swallowing a colored liquid. To start pathological processes, it is enough for an adult patient to drink 3 tbsp. l. substances, for the onset of death over the next day - a little more than a glass. Violations in the body begin to occur immediately after the coolant gets inside. In case of poisoning with antifreeze vapors, symptoms may not appear immediately, and in some cases they completely 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 alcohol intoxication. It doesn't last long.
Further, the patient begins to fall asleep. After 10-12 hours, more pronounced signs of poisoning become noticeable:
- severe headache and dizziness appear;
- rapidly losing coordination of movements;
- patient has difficulty maintaining balance and balance;
- double vision or short-term vision loss;
- unsuccessful attempts to focus on a specific subject;
- muscle cramps occur;
- abdominal pain;
- nausea and vomiting;
- decrease in body temperature;
- decrease in blood pressure and chills;
- pallor and cyanosis of the skin.
What awaits the victim without treatment?
First aid missing in case of antifreeze poisoning is a favorable condition for its progression. The next day, as a result of violations of nitrogen metabolism, lesions of the viscera (kidneys, liver) rapidly develop. Daily diuresis decreases up to anuria, blood in the urine, swelling of the extremities may appear. With further retention of dangerous toxins in the body, irreversible consequences will occur: uremic coma, the outcome of which is deplorable.
Other signs of antifreeze poisoning may not appear immediately, but only after a few days. "Slow" intoxication is more common with the consumption of a small amount of engine coolant. In rare cases, latent poisoning does not manifest itself for 2-3 weeks. Symptoms of intoxication caused by severe liver damage may 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 has swallowed antifreeze, regardless of age, weight and general he alth, requires emergency medical attention. When a small dose of antifreeze enters the body, the symptoms of intoxication may occur later, but you need to act immediately.
Emergency care is provided in the following order:
- The patient's stomach is washed with a 2% soda solution. Prepare it in a ratio of 4 tsp. soda per 1 liter of boiled water, mix thoroughly. If you don't have lye on hand, plain water can be used.
- Next, the resulting solution is given to the victim. You need to drink it in the shortest period - in 5-7 minutes.
- After artificial vomiting is caused: two fingers should be pressed on the root of the tongue. Take care of the utensils for collecting vomit in advance.
- In case of poisoning with antifreeze drunk in large quantities, washing should be repeated. After the end of vomiting, it is important to ensure that the victim rest, cover with a warm blanket and continue to give water to drink in order to avoid the development of kidney failure.
Bleeding in case of severe intoxication of the body
Nothing else needs to be done until the ambulance arrives. It is not worth looking for some medicines on your own and giving them to the poisoned in a panic is not worth it. Moreover, in order to overcome intoxication, doctors do not prescribe any drugs to the patient, since there is no specific antidote for poisoning with antifreeze. Therapy for poisoning with antifreeze is to renew the blood.
First of all, the maximum possible volume of toxic blood is eliminated by emitting it through a venous puncture. This technique allows you to quickly release the body from poisonous substances that have settled in the vessels and circulate for a long time. Required for normal lifethe amount of blood is replenished by donor.
What drugs are used after poisoning?
The next task in the course of treatment is to maintain the work of the affected internal organs and restore their functionality to the fullest. A properly drawn up therapeutic regimen will 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 - administered intravenously to prevent dehydration and maintain kidney function;
- "Korglikon", "Adonizide", "Digoxin" - medicines, the action of which is aimed at increasing the tone of the heart, restoring its normal contraction, eliminating swelling.
- "Etimizol", "Cititon" - necessary to stimulate breathing, eliminate the narcotic effect of ethylene glycol and methanol.
- "Mardil", "Mannitol" - provide dehydration of toxic fluids from the tissues and their release from the body.
- "Phenobarbital", "Clonazepam" - drugs for stopping attacks of muscle cramps, manifestations of disorders in the nervous system.
As soon as the victim's condition stabilizes, he is prescribed a course of injections of magnesium sulfate to neutralize poisonous s alts. With increased acidity, sodium bicarbonate is used. In addition to these funds, the patient is also prescribed vitaminsgroup B and ascorbic acid.
What to do in case of vapor poisoning or skin contact?
When antifreeze is poisoned by its abundant evaporation, as a rule, serious complications do not occur. In the event of signs of general malaise, it is important to provide the patient with rest and peace, open windows and ventilate the room well. Warm plentiful drink, if necessary, antipyretics and painkillers are the most effective in this case. If antifreeze gets on the skin, it is enough to rinse it with cold water, since external contact with antifreeze does not pose the slightest threat to human he alth.
Alcohol "therapy": tested by scientists
There is an opinion that if a coolant is accidentally swallowed, alcohol will be the best medicine for the victim. It is difficult to say how effective such an "antidote" is, but scientists from England have already announced the success of their experiments. All cases of poisoning, 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 a few 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. The observance of elementary safety precautions during the use of the substance and the prevention of its falling into children's hands will help to reduce the likelihood of intoxication to zero.
