Need to check your symptoms?
Use our symptom checker to help determine what your symptoms are and to ensure you get the help you need.
Check your symptomsWelcome to our New and Improved website. Serving You Better!
Swallowed Petrol/Diesel? Don’t do this.
January 4, 2020
If someone accidentally swallowed petrol, diesel (or a similar chemical like kerosene), the one thing you must not do is make them VOMIT immediately!!
If one accidentally swallows a small (think mouthful) amount of petrol, it goes into the stomach where, with time, the effect wears out of your system with no serious harm.
Trying to get someone to vomit is a useful step if you suspect they have swallowed a poisonous substance
However, by making a person vomit petrol, there is a high risk of the liquid passing into the lungs where more SEVERE damage can happen – with just a small amount of petrol.
Therefore, if an adult has swallowed a lot of petrol, take them to a medical centre immediately.
Above all, a medical assessment is COMPULSORY for children no matter how ‘little’ the quantity of petrol they may have swallowed.
Learn how to deal with some emergency conditions in children here.
100% Natural Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Drinking petrol can cause several problems including vomiting, stomach pain or dizziness.
Then, other quite severe symptoms include:
After ingesting petrol, you may find yourself belching petrol fumes all day or even longer.
However, as long as you do not get any in your lungs, the small amount of petrol you swallow may be safely excreted from your stomach.
A person who’s swallowed petrol may vomit naturally – help them lean forward or turn the head to the side to avoid choking and getting the petrol in the lungs.
Seek URGENT medical attention if large quantities have been swallowed.
Moreover, remember that complications are more likely to arise with delays in seeking treatment.
Now, learn what to do with other emergencies that could happen at home.
More Reading
Edited by AskAwayHealth Team
Disclaimer
All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising Medical Practitioners on a wide range of health care conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and to help promote quality health care. The advice in our material is not meant to replace the management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner.
To discuss your condition, please contact a health practitioner or reach us directly through response@askawayhealth.org
Want to know how your comment data is processed? Learn more
Leave a comment
Please fill in the field below to add a comment.