Cristina Yang (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
deaddadsclub) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2018-09-26 12:01 am
deaddadsclub) wrote in fandomhigh2018-09-26 12:01 am
Entry tags:
Humanoid Health and First Aid, Wednesday, Period 1
"Poisons," Cristina said at the top of class. "They're literally everywhere. There's even a store on this island named for them, so if you all don't already know at least some of what I'm about to teach you already, you're stupider than I thought." Didn't you guys miss her last week? "But reviewing the basics never hurts, so let's get this show on the road, shall we?"
The Danger Shop was once again programmed to resemble a classroom, and the lighting dimmed obligingly as Cristina projected a website onto the whiteboard. "This is the website for National Capital Poison Control, the DC area nonprofit poison control center. You can find a lot of how-to guides for accidental poisonings on here, and you can also find contact information for someone to walk you through how to handle an accidental poisoning. There are literally dozens of other websites and associations like this one all over the world, because people are stupid and children specifically are even stupider. If, for instance, you or any of your friends decide that it'd be really awesome to do the Tide Pod Challenge for real, this site is going to be your friend.
"The best thing you can do when it comes to poisonings is to avoid the shit out of them, which is why a big section of this site is devoted to prevention. When I was a kid, this meant sticking Mr. Yuk stickers on everything. Because plenty of children don't read, and people thought a skull and crossbones would just make the kids think it was, like, pirate candy or something, I guess. Like I said, people are stupid.
"Now, saying 'well, you should have prevented this' to a sobbing parent whose kid decided that the pumpkin-spice hand soap smelled too good not to eat is just a good way to get your ass sued." Did Cristina speak from experience? Why yes. Yes she did. "So that's where first aid comes in. Poison Control helps with that, too, making sure you can identify what the poison was and offering the best ways to deal with that specific poison. If you ingested something that burns, for instance, throwing it up right away is probably going to do more harm than good. In that case, drinking water or milk can help while you contact the authorities to get more specific assistance. When it comes to swallowed poisons, you're basically always going to want to get professional help ASAP. You can't really pump someone's stomach at home, and while 'activated charcoal' is super in as a food additive right now —" she sounded so tired just saying that "— the odds that you're going to have the right kind and right amount on hand to do you or your friend any real good is, like, really low. Seriously, you guys, don't eat charcoal unless a doctor tells you to. Just . . . stick it in a mesh bag and use it as an odor eater or something like a normal person.
"For inhaled poisons, like toxic gasses, for instance: get the fuck away from that shit. Get outside to a spot with lots of fresh air and then call a professional. Again, you're not going to have a lot of luck with home remedies in this case, unless for some reason you or your friends are hauling around oxygen tanks. And in that case, either your friend needs it for their own health problems, or you've got some other weird shit going on, anyway.
"In the case of topical or in-eye poisonings, you're going to want some nice, clean water so you can rinse that shit. A lot. At least for 15 minutes with running water. This is a rinse, not a soak. If it got onto your clothing as well as your skin, that clothing needs to come off. I don't care what your extenuating circumstances are, you'd rather be shirtless than get your skin burned off. Trust me. And while you're doing that rinsing, go ahead and contact Poison Control. Even if their answer is 'keep rinsing, it probably won't get worse,' at least you've got that from a professional, so you're not just, like, crossing your fingers and hoping for the best."
Cristina hit a button and the lights came back on, though the Poison Control website remained on the board. "Not everything that poisons one person is going to affect everyone else. Some people have natural immunities, or they might be one of those weirdos who devote a lot of time to developing an immunity deliberately. And some people are going to have adverse reactions to things that most people don't need to worry about at all. Those are called allergies, and they suck. Allergies are basically your body's natural defense system having an overreaction to a stimulus, such as pollen or, say, peanut oil or something. Allergic reactions can range from irrittating-but-manageable, like mild skin, eye, or nasal irritations, to immediately-life-threatening, like anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is most commonly associated with your throat swelling, making it difficult or impossible to breathe, but it can also include a sudden drop in blood pressure and other less obvious but life-threatening symptoms.
"If an allergic reaction is mild, you may be able to treat it simply by removing the stimulus and taking an over-the-counter antihistamine, like Benadryl. If the allergic reaction is extreme, then you're going to need to call 911 or otherwise contact an emergency medicine professional. In the case of anaphylaxis, the victim may not have time to wait for that professional medical assistance to arrive, though. Hopefully, they're aware of their severe allergic reaction and will have what's called an 'EpiPen' with them." Cristina called up a quick tutorial on how to use an EpiPen, projecting it onto the board next to the Poison Control website. "An EpiPen in a single dose shot of epinephrine, a drug which will help raise their blood pressure and constrict their blood vessels, reducing the swelling associated with that 'throat closing' effect and allowing them to breathe easier. It is not a cure for the allergic reaction. If you have to use an EpiPen on someone, they need to then be seen by a doctor. Period. An EpiPen is emergency medicine only, not a long-term solution. If the person doesn't have an EpiPen for whatever reason — and there are a few, especially with how prescription drug pricing is handled in this country —" Cristina cleared her throat and scowled, then moved on, "— there are some other things you can do to help the person feel comfortable and breathe through their reaction while you wait for medical assistance." She listed a few of them. "Do not try to manufacture your own epinephrine at home. Just — like, as a general rule, never try to make any drugs at home? Illegal or prescription or otherwise. You're probably just going to get yourself and/or your neighbors injured or killed. And your doctors will judge you. A lot. You will be an anecdote whipped out at parties for years to come, and not in a good way."
Cristina clapped her hands and looked over the class. "Now that that's all covered, let's see how you all do actually putting these techniques into action." Three holographic victims appeared, all in various states of poisoned distress. "Pair up and pick a victim. Use the poison control's substance guide to help you figure out the best treatment, and use the phone on the wall up here if you decide to call for professional medical care, so you don't end up bothering actual 911 or poison control operators with a fake emergency. And have fun! You're saving imaginary lives here, people!"
The Danger Shop was once again programmed to resemble a classroom, and the lighting dimmed obligingly as Cristina projected a website onto the whiteboard. "This is the website for National Capital Poison Control, the DC area nonprofit poison control center. You can find a lot of how-to guides for accidental poisonings on here, and you can also find contact information for someone to walk you through how to handle an accidental poisoning. There are literally dozens of other websites and associations like this one all over the world, because people are stupid and children specifically are even stupider. If, for instance, you or any of your friends decide that it'd be really awesome to do the Tide Pod Challenge for real, this site is going to be your friend.
"The best thing you can do when it comes to poisonings is to avoid the shit out of them, which is why a big section of this site is devoted to prevention. When I was a kid, this meant sticking Mr. Yuk stickers on everything. Because plenty of children don't read, and people thought a skull and crossbones would just make the kids think it was, like, pirate candy or something, I guess. Like I said, people are stupid.
"Now, saying 'well, you should have prevented this' to a sobbing parent whose kid decided that the pumpkin-spice hand soap smelled too good not to eat is just a good way to get your ass sued." Did Cristina speak from experience? Why yes. Yes she did. "So that's where first aid comes in. Poison Control helps with that, too, making sure you can identify what the poison was and offering the best ways to deal with that specific poison. If you ingested something that burns, for instance, throwing it up right away is probably going to do more harm than good. In that case, drinking water or milk can help while you contact the authorities to get more specific assistance. When it comes to swallowed poisons, you're basically always going to want to get professional help ASAP. You can't really pump someone's stomach at home, and while 'activated charcoal' is super in as a food additive right now —" she sounded so tired just saying that "— the odds that you're going to have the right kind and right amount on hand to do you or your friend any real good is, like, really low. Seriously, you guys, don't eat charcoal unless a doctor tells you to. Just . . . stick it in a mesh bag and use it as an odor eater or something like a normal person.
"For inhaled poisons, like toxic gasses, for instance: get the fuck away from that shit. Get outside to a spot with lots of fresh air and then call a professional. Again, you're not going to have a lot of luck with home remedies in this case, unless for some reason you or your friends are hauling around oxygen tanks. And in that case, either your friend needs it for their own health problems, or you've got some other weird shit going on, anyway.
"In the case of topical or in-eye poisonings, you're going to want some nice, clean water so you can rinse that shit. A lot. At least for 15 minutes with running water. This is a rinse, not a soak. If it got onto your clothing as well as your skin, that clothing needs to come off. I don't care what your extenuating circumstances are, you'd rather be shirtless than get your skin burned off. Trust me. And while you're doing that rinsing, go ahead and contact Poison Control. Even if their answer is 'keep rinsing, it probably won't get worse,' at least you've got that from a professional, so you're not just, like, crossing your fingers and hoping for the best."
Cristina hit a button and the lights came back on, though the Poison Control website remained on the board. "Not everything that poisons one person is going to affect everyone else. Some people have natural immunities, or they might be one of those weirdos who devote a lot of time to developing an immunity deliberately. And some people are going to have adverse reactions to things that most people don't need to worry about at all. Those are called allergies, and they suck. Allergies are basically your body's natural defense system having an overreaction to a stimulus, such as pollen or, say, peanut oil or something. Allergic reactions can range from irrittating-but-manageable, like mild skin, eye, or nasal irritations, to immediately-life-threatening, like anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is most commonly associated with your throat swelling, making it difficult or impossible to breathe, but it can also include a sudden drop in blood pressure and other less obvious but life-threatening symptoms.
"If an allergic reaction is mild, you may be able to treat it simply by removing the stimulus and taking an over-the-counter antihistamine, like Benadryl. If the allergic reaction is extreme, then you're going to need to call 911 or otherwise contact an emergency medicine professional. In the case of anaphylaxis, the victim may not have time to wait for that professional medical assistance to arrive, though. Hopefully, they're aware of their severe allergic reaction and will have what's called an 'EpiPen' with them." Cristina called up a quick tutorial on how to use an EpiPen, projecting it onto the board next to the Poison Control website. "An EpiPen in a single dose shot of epinephrine, a drug which will help raise their blood pressure and constrict their blood vessels, reducing the swelling associated with that 'throat closing' effect and allowing them to breathe easier. It is not a cure for the allergic reaction. If you have to use an EpiPen on someone, they need to then be seen by a doctor. Period. An EpiPen is emergency medicine only, not a long-term solution. If the person doesn't have an EpiPen for whatever reason — and there are a few, especially with how prescription drug pricing is handled in this country —" Cristina cleared her throat and scowled, then moved on, "— there are some other things you can do to help the person feel comfortable and breathe through their reaction while you wait for medical assistance." She listed a few of them. "Do not try to manufacture your own epinephrine at home. Just — like, as a general rule, never try to make any drugs at home? Illegal or prescription or otherwise. You're probably just going to get yourself and/or your neighbors injured or killed. And your doctors will judge you. A lot. You will be an anecdote whipped out at parties for years to come, and not in a good way."
Cristina clapped her hands and looked over the class. "Now that that's all covered, let's see how you all do actually putting these techniques into action." Three holographic victims appeared, all in various states of poisoned distress. "Pair up and pick a victim. Use the poison control's substance guide to help you figure out the best treatment, and use the phone on the wall up here if you decide to call for professional medical care, so you don't end up bothering actual 911 or poison control operators with a fake emergency. And have fun! You're saving imaginary lives here, people!"
Re: Treat a poisoning