Food Poisoning First Aid

Food poisoning is a condition that is commonly characterized by abdominal pain and cramping, loose bowel movement, headache, dizziness, and vomiting. These food poisoning symptoms and signs can appear within 24 hours or days after the time the infected food was eaten. This depends on the kind of toxin that has been breeding on the food you ate.

Anyway, this condition generally does not need you to panic. Surely the presence of food poisoning symptoms and signs can have you worry like “what the hell have you done wrong to be punished like that.” However, if these are the mild cases then upset stomach, loose stool, vomiting and the like will go on at their own time even without medications such as anti-diarrheal, anti-emetic, pain reliever and others.



The first aid procedure you should do at the time you realize you are experiencing food poisoning signs and symptoms is to rest and rehydrate. Actually, your initial and succeeding treatments to someone with food poisoning symptoms and signs basically address these manifestations individually. That means that your first aid to someone with diarrhea, whatever may the cause be, is what you will do in this case. That means that when you realize that you have diarrhea, you drink juices or sports drink as these has some electrolytes. These are needed to replace what you have lost through your frequent defecation and vomiting. It also would not hurt for you not to give the patient drinks made of milk and carbonated liquids.

The food poisoning treatment of vomiting is not to take the vomitus back to your stomach. Remember, your body is repelling the absorption of these infected food because there is something wrong with it. The first aid method to apply is the same with that of diarrhea. You only have to rehydrate. Although, sites that offer food poisoning remedies state that eating saltine crackers is said to help in alleviating nausea and vomiting. Also, eating small servings frequently is better than going with the traditional 3-meal schedule. The food you should offer should not be hard to digest. Your patient’s digestive tract has been upset so do not give it a hard time. Start with bland and soft diets slightly moving diet to as tolerated when all is well.



Warm compress might be effective to combat food poisoning symptoms of abdominal cramping and pain. Positioning patient to comfort is also accepted. The headache may be dealt by modifying the environment so that he will not get more irritated. The dizziness on the other hand can be controlled by having the patient rest and not let her walk especially when a bout is felt.

For additional information, there are postings in the internet regarding the food poisoning remedies that are readily available at home. These are taking 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or taking charcoal tablet/pill. However, even with you taking these food poisoning remedies, you should never forget to rehydrate and rest. Resting is helping your body recover from the stress brought by this gastrointestinal disruption you are feeling. Rehydration is very important because your patient may lead to coma or death if you re not going to handle and take care of him properly. These are the two most important first aid treatments of food poisoning symptoms and signs.