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Original poster

QUICK HELP My 2 year old swallowed WASHING UP LIQUID

125 replies

StarryStarryNight · 13/08/2007 11:36

I was in the other room, and I heard him cough, so went to check, he has climbed up on a chair to the sink, managed to reach the washing up liquid, half the bottle is gone, most is in the sink, but his arms are covered in it. Dont know how much he managed to swallow.

What is the best course of action? I have given him some milk (base vs acid) and a waffle.....

Should I just leave him to it? He is eating waffle and watching tv.

OP posts:
JeremyVile · 13/08/2007 15:43

Casbie wtf are you on about?

slalomsuki · 13/08/2007 15:47

Isn't this the sort of thing kids do and the key to being a mother is knowing when to react sensibly and not panic the child and when to react with a sense of urgency.

I am sure that had there been an issue I would have been more than capable of dealing with it sensibly and proactively without involving a lot of panicing or social services!!!!

allgonebellyup · 13/08/2007 15:49

i started a thread like this a few weeks ago, my dd swallowed a load of washing up liquid, she was totally fine, just had a sore throat for a while..

casbie · 13/08/2007 15:50

i don't think it's extreme to rush a child you suspect of swallowing half a bottle of washing-up liquid to A&E.

that's not panicking, that's rational.

to be proud that your son did similar with kandoo "and it was great because he went to bed early", just seems silly.

that's all.

Desiderata · 13/08/2007 15:51

Casbie ... how many times to you have to be told that Starry's ds did not consume half a bottle of washing up liquid.

I'm starting to guess you're pretty popular down your local A&E, No?

ledodgy · 13/08/2007 15:54

Will you read the bloody OP! SSN did NOT say he'd drunk Half the bottle of washing up liquid.

ledodgy · 13/08/2007 15:54

Sorry Desiderata didn't refresh in time to see your response.

casbie · 13/08/2007 15:55

that was my first impression by her first post - ffs.

and

no - never been to A&E actually.

Hulababy · 13/08/2007 15:58

Think StarryStarryNight reacted perfectly sensibly. Sought medical advice and acted upon it.

Did a bit of a google and TBH most of the stuff I found suggests the same course of action, and not find any saying go immediately to A&E. Some of the advice given:

INGESTION: Wash out mouth with water. Do not induce vomiting. Obtain medical advice.

INGESTION: Remove victim immediately from source of exposure. Rinse mouth thoroughly. Drink plenty of water. Get medical attention.

Ingestion: Rinse mouth and throat thoroughly. Give about 1/2 pint of liquid to drink. Obtain immediate
medical advice. Do not induce vomiting.

Ingestion: Wash out mouth with water.

NHS Direct advise:

If they are very unwell, dial 999.
If they don't have any symptoms, call NHS Direct.
Do not try to make them sick as it will make them worse.

loopylou6 · 13/08/2007 15:58

talk about a dog with a bone...

casbie · 13/08/2007 15:59

adding water to washing up liquid - that's really sensible!

Whizzz · 13/08/2007 16:01

casbie - it's to dilute it, not to make bubbles

meandmyflyingmachine · 13/08/2007 16:02

Casbie - having seen you on two threads today I'm starting to see a theme .

casbie · 13/08/2007 16:02

err - how do you make washing-up liquid make bubbles then..

loopylou6 · 13/08/2007 16:02

well casbie, all i can say is, what on earth are u doing on here? u obviousley know better than the NHS nurses and the poison people, so off u go and film a show or something...

Desiderata · 13/08/2007 16:03

Oh, casbie ... you're funny!

I feel the need to leave this thread, however, because I'm fighting an irresistible urge to goad you

... and that's not nice!

casbie · 13/08/2007 16:03

i just love the love on here don't you.

Hulababy · 13/08/2007 16:03

But all the medical advice is to give water after washing up liquid is ingested. The water dilutes the liquid. Are all the medical experts out there wrong?

ledodgy · 13/08/2007 16:03

The tap running or you hands swirling makes the bubbles try just putting washing up liquid in still water and see how many bubbles it makes.

meandmyflyingmachine · 13/08/2007 16:04

I'm not having a go.

I'm just saying.

There is a common thread

casbie · 13/08/2007 16:07

"But all the medical advice is to give water after washing up liquid is ingested. The water dilutes the liquid. Are all the medical experts out there wrong?"

yep.

imagine for one moment half a bottle of washing-up liquid in a small (two year old) container.

and say then add 1 pint of water.

now it takes instead of say 24 hours to be excreted, it now takes 4 days.

my answer stomache pump it out.

have none of you ever done first aid course?

Whizzz · 13/08/2007 16:09

Casbie - yes I have and I am a fully qualified H&S person (ex H&S manager in the chemical industry). I think Scoobi actually said she worked with the stuff - so I think we know what we are talking about, as do the other common sense posts on here

Hulababy · 13/08/2007 16:09

Let me get this right:

I ask: "Are all the medical experts out there wrong?"

Your answer: "yep."

What are your medical qualifications? Or qualifications related to the ingestation of potential harmful liquids and how to deal with them?

casbie · 13/08/2007 16:10

good - am glad we can all agree!

meandmyflyingmachine · 13/08/2007 16:10

I think the problem is maybe that everyone else is going with the volumes suggested in the OP, and you are going with half a bottle...

What would you do if it were just a small quantity?

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