Help! Ive swallowed some petrol!

[mrflibbles]

I kid you not. Following on from this

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&h=&t=64335

ive gone and swallowed some. Probably not very much (i.e. less than a mouthful) but enough to make my burps smell like petrol and me feel like a prick.

Any ideas what to do? Ive just been drinking a lot of water.

MrF (not blowing out any candles)

>>> Edited by mrflibbles on Sunday 2nd November 22:46

[mike s]

Just make sure you keep popping when going down a gear! What sort of MPG are you getting?

[Nick P]

lets hope you dont smoke....or are your piston rings ok

[deltaf]

Charcoal. Its often used for absorbtion of poisons etc....here have a briquette...

[mrflibbles]

thanks guys, piss take to be expected i guesss.

Any proper suggestions? will i die?

[eric mc]

Back in the 80s there was a tanker drivers strike in Ireland and we all went around siphoning from each others fuel tanks. Swallowed gallons of the stuff meself and appear to come through unscathed. In fact, the Irish economy began to take off not long after. Causitive effect? Who knows.

Drink petrol - you know it makes sense, especially now that it's all unleaded.

[sparkyjohn]

Straight from the COSHH sheet (and a little alarming...):

Ingestion:

The swallowing of small amounts may cause nausea and diarrhoea; larger amounts may cause irritation and drowsiness with vomiting. Ingestion may cause lung damage if untreated.

First Aid:

On Ingestion:

Wash mouth out with water and give water to drink(milk if available) get medical advice.

Do not induce vomiting owing to the danger of aspiration.

[dazren]

Phone call to A&E of your local hospital or your local "open on sunday" pharmacist.

Don't ignore the problem.

DAZ
(Pie and a few pints may help)

[mrflibbles]

sparkyjohn said:

On Ingestion: Wash mouth out with water and give water to drink(milk if available) get medical advice.

Bugger that its a sunday. It was optimax anyway, it'll probably clear out my internals.

[Apache]

Was it optimax? you might feel a bit hyper

[hut49]

A small amount is probably not going to cause any significant damage and water (or milk) should be drunk to dilute the hydrocarbons in the petrol. You should not make yourself vomit since petrol in the lungs is more dangerous than in the gut and during vomiting it's easy to inhale at the wrong moment.

If you have any burning in your mouth or your upper digestive system you should seek medical assistance and tell them how much you swallowed and when.

I guess you won't be trying siphoning again?

[dazren]

Call NHS direct on: 0845 4647

[Numptie]

Aye, sparkyjohn beat me to it - I was just looking for the COSHH sheet as well.

I'm sure you'll be fine but a quick call to NHS Direct (0845 4647) will put your mind at rest.

Cheers.

[mike s]

dazren said:

Call NHS direct on: 0845 4647

Can you imagine the conversation

"Hi"
"Hi, Iv'e just syphoned something out of my loved one's hose"

>> Edited by mike s on Sunday 2nd November 16:31

[condor]

A small teaspoonful of petrol isn't going to hurt...just drink lots of water/milk/lager whatever to dilute it in your stomach....some food will help as well.
Least you know now, how not to do it again

[sparkyjohn]

mrflibbles said:

sparkyjohn said: On Ingestion: Wash mouth out with water and give water to drink(milk if available) get medical advice. Bugger that its a sunday. It was optimax anyway, it'll probably clear out my internals.

Hey, I'm only quoting what it says here. Their bold type So don't come blaming me if you end up dead (err...)

[interloper]

There was a chap who used to go round the local forecourts drinking small amounts from the pumps, then running off ! I wonder what happened to him ?

[interloper]

He was odd but not that stupid ! He used to pour it from the pump into a cuped hand and drink from his palm. I actualy witnessed his weird behaviour, couldnt believe my eyes !

[funkyboogalooo]

I had this happen at the last petrol strike it makes you feel like shit the taste of petrol. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but the following day was worse had the worst migraine I had ever had in my life. Anyway that was all.
Now I have a new trick for those of us who like to syphon but dont like to suck or spend money on gadgets (whats the point in being tight enough to syphon then spend money on gadgets?) Get an empty round washing up liquid bottle (or similar) get your hose end to fit in is a tight as possible, preferably air tight or use a rag around it to make a tight seal. Squeeze the bottle then let it expand again starting the flow, remove the bottle and hey ho presto.
Another handy hint from the bogalooo

[Pigeon]

mrflibbles said:

ive gone and sswallowed some. Probbaly not very much (i.e. less than a mouthful) but enough to make my burps smell like petrol and me feel like a prick.

I've done this loads of times. And diesel, priming things with airlocks in. The most unpleasant effect was the petroleous belches. I wouldn't worry.

Don't let the COSHH sheet worry you either. They spout panic-ridden crap about the most innocuous substances in order to generate work for bureaucrats and makers of rubber gloves. There's a COSHH sheet for salt - you know, the stuff you put on your food - and it's not much different from that petrol one.