How To Save Suicide Victim That Drank Sniper Insecticide

Suicide is becoming a normal thing in Nigeria. There are various methods adopted by these ones. They all seek for the easy and fast way out of this world. From observation, the most use for some years now is sniper insecticide.
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Sniper insecticide contains dimethyl 2,2 dichlorovinyl 1 phosphate (DDVP). This chemical kills most types of farm and house crawling and flying insects. But due to its toxicity to humans, it is restricted for outdoor use only. It is a farmer's choice. But unfortunately, it founds its way into homes where they are use it raw without dilution or diluted with kerosene making it more potent instead of water. Both raw and kerosene diluted sniper is deadly. However, one can still survive if we all know the first aid to this poison.

Sniper insecticide

For those who ingested this position, it takes some minutes to hours before the signs and symptoms start to manifest and it takes longer before death can set in. This all depends on the quantity consume and how empty the stomach was before consuming it. Quick emergency can save the person at this stage if administered properly. So, what can others do to save the dying person?
DDVP also known as dichlorovinyl is an organophosphate which inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AchE) enzyme. AchE enzyme hydrolysis acetylcholine (ACH). ACH is a molecule in the body that transmit nervous signals from nerves to muscles and also between neurons in the brain. So the line of activity of DDVP poison is it inhibit AchE which in turn terminate the transmission of neurons signals since Ach is now useless. The result is a constant activity and excitation of muscles and brain.

Signs And Symptoms

How to identify a person who took sniper are:

• Look around for the container
• Smell the persons mouth

The signs and symptoms vary depending on the quantity consume. But in general, look out for;

• Body Weakness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Weakness
• Headache
• Tightness in the chest
• Blurred vision
• Salivating
• Stiff walking
• Depression
• Sweating

Conscious Victim

First thing first is to prevent further poisoning. Take the poison from the person and rinse the mouth with ordinary warm water. Remove the person from the room to a well ventilated place. Call neighbours and seek how to get medical help as soon as possible. While that is been sorted out, induce vomiting. This should be done by stroking or ticking the back of the person throat with a finger. Keeping the person constantly walking around can also help with vomiting. Never use salt water to induce vomiting as this method  is dangerous in this case. Lying face down or kneeling forward make vomiting easy. Give water, fruit juice, egg white or a glass of cow milk to help neutralise (detoxify) the effect or to dilute the solution in the stomach. This only help to spread the poison and reduce concentration. Milk of magnesia promote diarrhoea and prevent digesting the poison which is another option. After that, get activated charcoal from your pharmacy store. It is less than N500 for 10 tablets. You can also obtain charcoal from wood. Dissolve each tablet in a ¹/4 glass cup of clean water and give the person to drink. This will help to absorb the poison from the stomach. All this should be done in less than 2 hours after ingesting the poison.

Unconscious, Shaking Or Confuse Person

Make sure the person is still breathing. If the person is having difficulty in breathing, do mouth-to-mouth breathing. But be careful not to poison yourself from the ones in the mouth of the person. But the risk can be reduce by wearing a pocket face mask or piece of cloth in the mouth. If the person could not regain consciousness, the best thing now is a medical attention. Keep the victim flat on his back with legs 1-1¹/2 feet above head. Then help keep victim warm to prevent shivering. If the victim regain consciousness, please carry out the first aid describe above

Hospital

The first thing the doctor wants to know is what happened. No need beating about the bush. The doctor should be told the name of the poison consume probably with the container, the quantity the victims took and how long ago. Any signs and symptoms displayed by the victim before getting to the hospital should be of valuable help in knowing the stage the victim is.
Medical diagnosis involve accessing a drop in AchE below 25%. This is below the normal value and indicates toxicity (not necessarily sniper anyway).
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Atropine is the antidote of choice. 1-2mg given intravenously or intramuscularly if cyanosis is present. It should be given every 5-10 minutes interval until atropinization is complete and maintained for 24-48 hours in fewer cases. Multivitamins and electrolyte supplements should be given to support the body's hepatic metabolism.

Survival Possibility

Extremely high. From research, metabolism is fast. Signs and symptoms develop within minutes to 2 hours. If the victim can survive the first 24 hours, prognosis is favourable. Recovery is also fast as compared to other poison. Complete recovery may be anticipated in severe cases of poisoning and even hours of artificial respiration.
So the reason majority of victims who took sniper die is because of lack of knowledge from people around. It is not suppose to be a death sentence. They only die because people around did not act fast. Have even heard of some medical doctors rejected attending to them. In some cases, they don't know sniper got an antidote that works very well or they are angry the victim wants to take his or her life. Atropine is cheap and easily available in most hospitals.
Please share this to save a life. Say no to suicide.
Note: the advice here is only for sniper poisoning. It may not be suitable for other poisonous substances. For example, victims of corrosive poison should not be induced to vomit. It will end up burning more of their digestive tract.