Poisoning (drugs and substances)

Do not force vomiting. That is often the more dangerous course.

When to suspect poisoning

• Clouded consciousness or cannot be woken
• Vomiting, severe abdominal pain, drooling
• Burn marks around the mouth (a swallowed chemical)
• Abnormal breathing
• Empty pill bottles or chemical containers nearby

What to do immediately

1. Call 119.
2. Establish what, how much and when it was taken, and pass it on.
3. Take the container and any vomit to hospital — vital information for treatment.
4. If unconscious, lay them on their side to keep the airway clear.
5. If a chemical was swallowed, do not induce vomiting — it burns the oesophagus a second time.
6. On skin or in eyes, rinse under running water for a long time. See chemical-exposure.

What not to do

• Forcing vomiting
• Automatically giving milk or water — it depends on the substance; follow 119's instructions.
• Letting them "sleep it off"
• Trying folk remedies

If you have children at home

• Keep medicines, detergents, insecticides and cosmetics out of reach.
• Never decant chemicals into drink bottles. Children drinking them is a common accident.
• Keep medicines in their original containers and put them away straight after use.

Where to go

• 119 immediately
• 1339 Korea Disease Control Agency (poisoning advice)
• 1345 interpretation support
• e-gen www.e-gen.or.kr (A&E)

Questions people ask

I took a double dose by mistake. Check the name and dose and ask 1339, a pharmacy or a clinic. If symptoms appear, be seen immediately.

My child swallowed something but seems fine. Symptoms can be delayed depending on the substance. Identify it and call 1339 or 119. Button batteries and magnets mean A&E immediately.

I feel dizzy handling pesticides. Stop work, get to fresh air and call 119. If it happened at work, it may count as an industrial accident. See chemical-exposure.

I'm worried about carbon monoxide. With headache, vomiting and dizziness together, ventilate and get outside immediately. See heating-ondol.

Take care

Don't throw away the empty container — take it to hospital. What was swallowed determines the treatment. With children, prevention is everything. Check where your medicines and detergents are kept today.

Related

chemical-exposure · food-poisoning · alcohol-poisoning · first-aid-basics · medicine-safety

Source

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency www.kdca.go.kr / As of 2026-08