Poisoning is one of the most common emergency situations, and one for which the majority of people are ill-prepared. Poisoning is usually accidental, but it can also be suicidal and occasionally deliberate. Most accidental poisoning occurs from taking an overdose of drugs or alcohol, or by eating tainted food (see below). Many people - children in particular - are poisoned by household cleaners and other products, by medication, by garden plants and chemicals used in the garden, and by fluids such as antifreeze, gases, methylated spirits and rodent poisons.
