Texas Pesticide Applicator Practice Exam

What substance can help absorb swallowed poisons?

1. Activated charcoal

2. Milk

3. Saltwater

4. Water

The correct answer is: Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is a substance that is commonly used in emergency medicine to treat certain types of poisoning. It works by adsorbing toxins present in the stomach, which prevents their absorption into the bloodstream. When activated charcoal is administered promptly after ingestion of a poison, it can significantly reduce the amount of a toxin that the body absorbs, thereby mitigating the effects of the poison. Other options like milk, saltwater, and water do not have the same properties as activated charcoal in terms of absorbing toxins. While milk might have been thought to coat the stomach, it does not effectively adsorb poisons. Saltwater can be dangerous and is not used for this purpose, and water could dilute the poison but does not prevent absorption. Therefore, activated charcoal is the preferred choice when dealing with certain types of toxic ingestion.