BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuRefrigerant poisoningCoolant poisoning; Freon poisoning; Fluorinated hydrocarbon poisoning; Sudden sniffing death syndromeA refrigerant is a chemical that makes things cold. This article discusses poisoning from sniffing or swallowing such chemicals.The most common poisoning occurs when people intentionally sniff a type of refrigerant called Freon.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient The poisonous ingredient includes fluorinated hydrocarbons. Where Found The poisonous ingredients may be found in:Various refrigerants Some fumigantsThis list may not be all-inclusive. Symptoms LUNGSBreathing difficulty Breathing difficultyBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty) SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROATSevere pain in the throat Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue Loss of vision STOMACH AND INTESTINESSevere abdominal pain Abdominal painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting Burns of the food pipe (esophagus) Vomiting blood Blood in the stool HEART AND BLOODIrregular heart rhythms Collapse SKINIrritation Burn Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues Most symptoms result from breathing in the substance. Home Care Seek emergency medical care right away. Move the person to fresh air. Be careful to avoid being overcome by the fumes while helping someone else.Contact poison control for further information. Before Calling Emergency Determine the following information:The person's age, weight, and condition The name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) The time it was swallowed or inhaled The amount swallowed or inhaled Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States 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.Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. What to Expect at the Emergency Room The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:Intravenous (IV) fluids through the vein Medicines to treat symptoms Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage) Gastric lavageGastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopy - camera placed down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin) Breathing tube Oxygen Outlook (Prognosis) How well a person does depends on the severity of the poisoning and how quickly medical help was received.Severe lung damage may occur. Survival past 72 hours usually means the person will have a complete recovery.Sniffing Freon is extremely dangerous and can lead to long-term brain damage and sudden death.Open ReferencesReferencesTheobald JL, Kostic MA. Poisoning. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 77.Wang GS, Buchanan JA. Hydrocarbons. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 147.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 7/1/2023 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Refrigerant poisoningCoolant poisoning; Freon poisoning; Fluorinated hydrocarbon poisoning; Sudden sniffing death syndromeA refrigerant is a chemical that makes things cold. This article discusses poisoning from sniffing or swallowing such chemicals.The most common poisoning occurs when people intentionally sniff a type of refrigerant called Freon.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient The poisonous ingredient includes fluorinated hydrocarbons. Where Found The poisonous ingredients may be found in:Various refrigerants Some fumigantsThis list may not be all-inclusive. Symptoms LUNGSBreathing difficulty Breathing difficultyBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article Throat swelling (which may also cause breathing difficulty) SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROATSevere pain in the throat Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue Loss of vision STOMACH AND INTESTINESSevere abdominal pain Abdominal painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Vomiting Burns of the food pipe (esophagus) Vomiting blood Blood in the stool HEART AND BLOODIrregular heart rhythms Collapse SKINIrritation Burn Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues Most symptoms result from breathing in the substance. Home Care Seek emergency medical care right away. Move the person to fresh air. Be careful to avoid being overcome by the fumes while helping someone else.Contact poison control for further information. Before Calling Emergency Determine the following information:The person's age, weight, and condition The name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) The time it was swallowed or inhaled The amount swallowed or inhaled Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States 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.Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. What to Expect at the Emergency Room The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:Intravenous (IV) fluids through the vein Medicines to treat symptoms Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage) Gastric lavageGastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopy - camera placed down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison Washing of the skin (irrigation), perhaps every few hours for several days Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin) Breathing tube Oxygen Outlook (Prognosis) How well a person does depends on the severity of the poisoning and how quickly medical help was received.Severe lung damage may occur. Survival past 72 hours usually means the person will have a complete recovery.Sniffing Freon is extremely dangerous and can lead to long-term brain damage and sudden death.Open ReferencesReferencesTheobald JL, Kostic MA. Poisoning. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 77.Wang GS, Buchanan JA. Hydrocarbons. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 147.