taras
Least Haunted
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2002
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- Location
- Edinburgh
WHISKY WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED AFTER ANTI-FREEZE POISON SCARE
09:00 - 30 December 2002
An angus councillor was rushed to hospital after accidentally drinking anti-freeze left on a table by a relative planning to put it in her car.
Glennis Middleton was taken from the relative's home in Forfar to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where she was told the only cure was to drink alcohol - and lots of it.
The Forfar West councillor had been helping her relative to decorate on December 22 when the potentially fatal incident happened.
It was thirsty work and Mrs Middleton - who was not wearing her glasses - reached out to the bottle left on the table. She drank about three mouthfuls before realising something was wrong.
After contacting a GP at Green Street Surgery in Forfar, Mrs Middleton was instructed to make her way to the accident and emergency department of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Staff gave the councillor a choice of tipple, between gin, vodka and whisky, before giving her two cupfuls to drink immediately.
She was then given a quantity of whisky every hour, with the measure worked out as staff monitored the levels of anti-freeze in her blood.
Mrs Middleton, 51, said: "I am extremely concerned that on the bottle itself there was no indication that medical attention must be sought as a matter of urgency, and indeed that the contents of the bottle are extremely toxic.
"Some bottles obviously do, but on the bottle in question there was no mention of how dangerous the contents can be.
"I was thirsty, I didn't have my glasses on and it was there. When it first happened I wasn't unduly worried because it didn't say on the bottle that I should be.
"It was only after my daughter phoned the GP that we discovered that this could be potentially serious.
"I was shocked to discover that on a previous occasion someone had died after drinking anti-freeze, and I was informed that this could prove fatal."
She added: "I am very grateful to the staff of accident and emergency at Ninewells for their prompt attention and also to the staff of the short-stay ward who looked after me so well.
"I would urge people who find themselves in a similar predicament to seek medical attention immediately."
Dr Shobhan Thakore, of Ninewells Hospital accident and emergency department, said: "It's potentially very serious. Anti-freeze is made up of two different types of alcohol potentially, ethylene glycol and methanol.
"Potentially, fairly small amounts can kill you. Even 100mls of anti-freeze can kill someone.
"The problem is when they are broken down by the body. When the body breaks them down it produces products which are toxic.
"If it is left untreated, the potential is that it causes kidney failure and can cause seizures and the methanol can cause blindness. It's not something we see frequently."
He added that anyone who consumes anti-freeze should make their way to hospital immediately, bringing the bottle with them.
"Ordinary alcohol is an antidote to it. We need to give them the correct dose of alcohol and monitor their blood levels to check they're not coming to any harm.
"It's important that they don't treat themselves at home."
09:00 - 30 December 2002
An angus councillor was rushed to hospital after accidentally drinking anti-freeze left on a table by a relative planning to put it in her car.
Glennis Middleton was taken from the relative's home in Forfar to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where she was told the only cure was to drink alcohol - and lots of it.
The Forfar West councillor had been helping her relative to decorate on December 22 when the potentially fatal incident happened.
It was thirsty work and Mrs Middleton - who was not wearing her glasses - reached out to the bottle left on the table. She drank about three mouthfuls before realising something was wrong.
After contacting a GP at Green Street Surgery in Forfar, Mrs Middleton was instructed to make her way to the accident and emergency department of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Staff gave the councillor a choice of tipple, between gin, vodka and whisky, before giving her two cupfuls to drink immediately.
She was then given a quantity of whisky every hour, with the measure worked out as staff monitored the levels of anti-freeze in her blood.
Mrs Middleton, 51, said: "I am extremely concerned that on the bottle itself there was no indication that medical attention must be sought as a matter of urgency, and indeed that the contents of the bottle are extremely toxic.
"Some bottles obviously do, but on the bottle in question there was no mention of how dangerous the contents can be.
"I was thirsty, I didn't have my glasses on and it was there. When it first happened I wasn't unduly worried because it didn't say on the bottle that I should be.
"It was only after my daughter phoned the GP that we discovered that this could be potentially serious.
"I was shocked to discover that on a previous occasion someone had died after drinking anti-freeze, and I was informed that this could prove fatal."
She added: "I am very grateful to the staff of accident and emergency at Ninewells for their prompt attention and also to the staff of the short-stay ward who looked after me so well.
"I would urge people who find themselves in a similar predicament to seek medical attention immediately."
Dr Shobhan Thakore, of Ninewells Hospital accident and emergency department, said: "It's potentially very serious. Anti-freeze is made up of two different types of alcohol potentially, ethylene glycol and methanol.
"Potentially, fairly small amounts can kill you. Even 100mls of anti-freeze can kill someone.
"The problem is when they are broken down by the body. When the body breaks them down it produces products which are toxic.
"If it is left untreated, the potential is that it causes kidney failure and can cause seizures and the methanol can cause blindness. It's not something we see frequently."
He added that anyone who consumes anti-freeze should make their way to hospital immediately, bringing the bottle with them.
"Ordinary alcohol is an antidote to it. We need to give them the correct dose of alcohol and monitor their blood levels to check they're not coming to any harm.
"It's important that they don't treat themselves at home."
