EMERGENCY FIRST AID

Activated Charcoal

• Most important antidote to have in the home.
• Activated charcoal is a fine, odorless, tasteless, insoluble black powder that binds a wide variety of toxins.
• This binding prevents the absorption of ingested drugs and toxins from the stomach into the blood stream.
• Charcoal can be administered in almost all serious oral accidental poisonings except caustic agents (acids), iron, heavy metals (lead) and hydrocarbons (gasoline, kerosene, lamp oil).
• As with any poisoning, call Carolinas Poison Center first before administering any treatment.
• Most pharmacies stock over-the-counter activated charcoal in their stores for home emergencies.
• If you cannot find activated charcoal, ask your pharmacist to order a bottle for you.
• Parents are advised to also keep a bottle of unexpired activated charcoal in the home for each child under the age of 6, in case of an accidental poisoning.
• When readily available, activated charcoal can be administered successfully, rapidly and safely to children in the home.