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Warning-sign checks

Shellac poisoning: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Elsewhere, contact the local poison information service or emergency health line.

    Call emergency services now if the person has:

    • Trouble breathing, slow breathing, or blue or grey lips
    • Severe drowsiness, confusion, collapse, or inability to wake
    • A seizure
    • New blurred vision, vision loss, or severe eye symptoms
    • Repeated vomiting with reduced alertness
    • Severe weakness or rapidly worsening symptoms

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact a poison control service promptly after anyone swallows a liquid shellac product, even if there are no symptoms.

    Do not wait for symptoms if methanol is listed, the ingredients are unclear, or more than a small taste may have been swallowed.

    After an eye splash, seek urgent advice if pain, redness, or blurred vision continues after thorough rinsing.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine medical follow-up for persistent but stable symptoms after an assessed exposure.

The article also says

In the United States, Poison Control is available at 1-800-222-1222 .

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Shellac poisoning. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.