Lightning Learning: Essential Oils
“Many people think essential oils are harmless: WRONG! They’re highly toxic household items!”
What?
Many people think essential oils are harmless: WRONG! They are highly toxic household items!
Amount? Always consider the worst amount possible for a child’s weight.
Consider: ingestion, inhalation, splashes. For eyes? PH testing
Signs and symptoms:
Agitation
Hallucinations and Seizures
Chemical burns
Breathing problems
Liver failure
Brain swelling and Coma
Systemic features may be delayed up to 4 hours post ingestion and should be observed for 6 hours.
Why?
Every year there are around 40,000 attendances to the Emergency Department in England and Wales as a result of suspected poisoning in children:
50% of attendances are admitted for observations
25% of attendances are children under 5 years old
Circumstances can be accidental or deliberate.
Always consider child safeguarding
Consider the child’s developmental stage
Further Reading
- National Poisons Information Service: TOXBASE®
- Univesity Hospitals of Leicester: Child Protection Guidelines
- RCEM Learning: Toxicology CPD
