Poisoning usually occurs suddenly and unexpectedly from a wide variety of sources. For the average person poisoning usually results from substances such as medicine and drugs; chemicals; pesticides; household products; plants; and animals (including insects and reptiles).
What would be the best course of action for example in the event of a snake bite, or an overdose of medication, or swallowing some hazardous chemical by mistake?
The Poisons Information Centre has a helpline that should be contacted immediately: 0861 555 777.
Make sure that you are able to describe the source of the poisoning, for example a description of the snake in the event of a snake bite or the name of the substance that was swallowed.
This helpline is manned around the clock by medical doctors and specially trained pharmacists to provide advice on the diagnosis and treatment of poisoning for both adults and children.
The Poisons Information Centre is a 24 hour service for the public as well as health care workers, and forms part of the Department of Paediatrics & Child Health, University of Cape Town.