Causes and Risks:

• sodium polyphosphates
• sodium carbonate
• sodium salicylates

Where Found:

• automatic dishwashing soaps

Symptoms: from swallowing:

• body as a whole
  • severe pain in the mouth
  • collapse
• respiratory
  • inability to breathe due to the throat swelling shut
• eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • severe pain in the throat
• gastrointestinal
  • severe abdominal pain
  • diarrhea
• heart and blood vessels
  • rapid drop in blood pressure

Home Treatment: DO NOT INDUCE EMESIS (VOMITING). If the soap is in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. If the soap was swallowed, have the patient drink water or milk IMMEDIATELY. If the patient is vomiting, keep giving water or milk.

Before Calling Emergency: Determine the following information:

• the patient’s age, weight, and condition
• the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed

Call Poison Control: They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What To Expect: Some or all of the following procedures may be performed.

• for swallowed poison
  • Give fluids.
  • Treat the symptoms.

The prognosis (probable outcome) depends on how rapidly the alkali was diluted. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage. Damage continues to occur to the esophagus and stomach for several weeks after the alkali was swallowed. Death may occur as long as a month after the alkali was swallowed.