What to do if you accidentally swallow desiccant

Sometimes, if parents do not take good care of their children, they may accidentally ingest desiccants. At this time, you must pay attention to the correct handling and understand the composition of the desiccant. Generally, silica gel desiccant is non-toxic, but calcium chloride or ferric oxide desiccant is highly toxic, so you must seek medical attention in time.

1Silica gel desiccant

This desiccant is generally transparent, non-toxic and does not require any treatment.

2. Ferric oxide desiccant

This desiccant is brown in color and only slightly irritating. Anyone who accidentally ingests it can dilute it by drinking water. Unless the patient deliberately takes a large amount and develops symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea, the possibility of iron poisoning must be considered and medical attention must be sought immediately.

3Calcium chloride desiccant

This desiccant is only slightly irritating and can be diluted with water.

4Calcium oxide desiccant

This desiccant is what we usually call quicklime. When it comes into contact with water, it will turn into a strong alkaline calcium bicarbonate, which is corrosive. Please dilute it with water at home, and then go to the hospital for further treatment. Do not induce vomiting, and give milk or water orally quickly, but be careful not to neutralize it with any acid.

Precautions

If you accidentally ingest ferric oxide, calcium chloride or calcium oxide, you need to drink water to dilute it at home. The amount to drink should be 1 to 2 cc per kilogram of the patient's body weight. In particular, if you have calcium oxide poisoning, you should not drink too much water to avoid vomiting, which may cause further burns to the esophagus.