How to Treat Chloroform Poisoning

Chloroform is known chemically as trichloromethane (CHCl3). Acute poisoning is rare because chloroform has been banned from consumer products since 1975. Chloroform poisoning occurs most commonly in its manufacture or from drug abuse. The following steps will help you identify and treat a case of chloroform poisoning.

Instructions

• 1

  Know the symptoms. Chloroform was once used as a general anesthetic and as one might expect, the most obvious symptom is depression of the central nervous system. Small amounts can cause loss of consciousness and death due to cardiac or respiratory arrest may occur within a few minutes of heavy exposure.

• 2

  Seek treatment in a hospital for chloroform poisoning. Contaminated clothing should be removed and washed.

• 3

  Clean up spills while wearing breathing apparatus and gloves. Apply a dispersing agent if available, otherwise absorb the spillage using sand and a shovel. Unprotected people should keep a safe distance as chloroform is both powerful and fast-acting. The work atmosphere should not contain more than 10 parts per million of chloroform.

• 4

  Administer supportive treatment and monitor cardiac and respiratory functioning. Respiratory assistance and cardiac defibrillation is often needed. Gastric decontamination is not helpful as chloroform is absorbed rapidly.

• 5

  Treat long-term effects from severe chloroform poisoning. Treat kidney or liver failure with dialysis and replace fluids as needed. Patients may exhibit nerve damage in the form of tremors or shaking in the limbs. This frequently disappears after a few days without any treatment.