After shaves

• Definition
• Poisonous Ingredient
• Where Found
• Symptoms
• Home Treatment

• Before Calling Emergency
• Poison Control, or a local emergency number
• What to expect at the emergency room
• Expectations (prognosis)

Definition   

Poisoning from ingestion of an after shave product.

Poisonous Ingredient   

• ethyl alcohol
• isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol)

Where Found   

• various after shave products

Symptoms   

for ethanol:

• body as a whole
  • listing from side to side
  • unable to walk in a normal manner
  • slurred speech
  • easily upset
• respiratory
  • slowed respirations
• gastrointestinal
  • vomiting
  • vomitus containing blood
  • abdominal pain
• heart and blood vessels
  • low blood pressure
• nervous system
  • stupor
  • coma

• body as a whole
  • unresponsive reflexes
  • incoordination
• respiratory
  • slowed respirations
• gastrointestinal
  • nausea and/or vomiting
  • vomitus containing blood
  • abdominal pain
• heart and blood vessels
  • low blood pressure
• nervous system
  • dizziness
  • deep stupor or state of unconsciousness unresponsive to treatment
  • coma

Home Treatment   

If you suspect possible poisoning, call 1-800-222-1222 anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Before Calling Emergency   

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number   

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room   

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

For ethanol and isopropanol:

• Use gastric lavage.
• Treat breathing difficulties.
• Maintain blood pressure.
• Use dialysis.
• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)   

For ethanol: Survival over 24 hours usually indicates recovery will occur in cases of acute toxic alcohol consumption.

For isopropanol: If the patient survives over 72 hours, complete recovery is very likely.