In overdose and poisoning scenarios, what is the recommended initial management?

• A. Induce vomiting immediately
• B. Do not contact poison control
• C. Assess, call poison control, and do not induce vomiting unless advised
• D. Wait for symptoms before contacting authorities

Answer: (C)

In overdose or poisoning, the first priority is safety plus getting expert guidance. Start by assessing the person’s condition and ensuring the scene is safe, then check if they are responsive and breathing. Gather what you can about the substance, amount, and time of ingestion to share with help providers. The recommended next step is to contact poison control or emergency services for specific instructions. Do not induce vomiting unless a professional explicitly tells you to do so, because vomiting can cause serious harm—there’s a risk of aspiration, and many substances can be worsened by vomiting or may not benefit from it. Rely on expert directions, which may include further steps, monitoring, or urgent hospital care. Waiting for symptoms to appear isn’t reliable, as some poisons act quickly while others can cause delayed effects.