Sulfuric acid poisoning

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Battery acid; Hydrogen sulfate; Oil of vitriol; Matting acid; Vitriol brown oil 

DO NOT make a person throw up. Seek immediate medical help.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk. DO NOT give water or milk if the patient is vomiting or has a decreased level of alertness.

If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air.

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed
• Call 911, Poison Control, or the local emergency number:

Take the container with you to the emergency room.

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The patient may receive:

• IV fluids
• Milk of magnesia
• Medications and therapies to treat the symptoms
• Antibiotics
• Surgery to repair any tissue damage
• Breathing tube 

How well a patient does depends on how fast the poison is diluted and neutralized. Extensive damage to the mouth, throat, eyes, lungs, esophagus, nose, and stomach are possible. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage.

Swallowing the poison can cause death.

Review Date: 03/02/2006
Reviewed By: Janeen R. Azare, PhD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.