Poisonous plants and fungi

Introduction

Many young children eat plant leaves or brightly coloured berries, but serious poisoning as a result rarely occurs.

However, ingesting even small amounts of foxglove or wild arum can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps; and large amounts are potentially fatal. Seizures may occur after ingesting laburnum seeds.

Serious poisoning as a result of eating mushrooms is also rare. Mushrooms found in the garden may cause nausea, vomiting, and occasionally, hallucinations. Death cap mushrooms cause vomiting and severe watery diarrhoea between 6 and 12 hours after ingestion and can be fatal.

Recognition features

There may be:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Cramping abdominal pains.
• Diarrhoea.
• Seizures.
• Impaired consciousness.

Treatment

Your Aims:

• To identify the poisonous plant, if available.
• To manage any seizures.
• To seek medical aid if necessary.

If the casualty is conscious:

• Ask them what they have eaten and reasure them.
• Try to identify the poisonous plant, and find out which part of it has been eaten.
• Get medical advice at once so that the appropriate treatment can be given.
• Keep any small pieces of the palnt that you have found to show to the doctor or send with the casualty to hospital.

If the casualty becomes unconscious:

• Open the airway and check breathing
• Be prepared to give chest compressions and rescue breaths if necessary.
• Place them into the recovery position if the casualty is unconscious but breathing normally.
• Dial 999 for an ambulance.

Do not induce vomiting.

Related topics

• Primary survey
• Shock
• Poisons
• Swallowed poisons 
• Drug poisoning 
• Food poisoning
• Alcohol poisoning 

Please note:

These hints are no substitute for thorough knowledge of first aid! St John Ambulance holds first aid courses throughout the country.