Many poisonings around the UK are not just from contact with chemicals. In this article, we explore some local plants that can be fatal if consumed in small quantities. Some typical examples of this are the Poppy, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Giant Hogweed, Horse Chestnut and many, many more. These can look harmless but can be fatal if ingested. A risk especially to children with Pica (an eating disorder where the child eats anything and everything). So, best practice is to reduce risk by knowing what is growing in your garden and educating children on what plants are poisonous. This is very important for reducing risk.
If you are out and about and something happens, our advice is to be prepared… Have a charged phone to call for help, with a What Three Words location. Get the person to spit out as much as they can and be aware of where else the plant may have touched. Do not make them sick. If they are unconscious, use the recovery position and never put your fingers in their mouth. Finally, if you know your poisonous plants, you’ll be able to inform the medic what type it is and help them to identify possible treatments sooner.