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First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

  • Chest Pain
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Severe Bleeding
  • Sudden Weakness or Numbness
  • A Medical Emergency
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Ricin Poisoning

Call 911

1. Get Away From the Source

  • If you are outdoors, move away from the area where ricin was released.
  • If ricin was released indoors, get out of the building.

2. Call 911

3. Remove Contaminated Clothing

  • Do not remove clothing over person's head. Cut or tear it off.
  • Place contaminated clothing and anything that touches it into a plastic bag.
  • Seal the bag, put the bag into another plastic bag, and seal that bag.

4. Wash Entire Body With Soap and Water

5. Follow Up

  • At the hospital, the person may receive intravenous fluids, medications to control seizures, and stomach flushing if ricin was ingested.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Varnada Karriem-Norwood, MD on September 27, 2011
© 2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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