In suspected poisoning, which action should be avoided?

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Inducing vomiting after a suspected poisoning is avoided because bringing the substance back up can cause more harm than good. Vomiting can lead to aspiration into the lungs, especially if the person is drowsy or unconscious, and it can worsen injuries if the ingested material is caustic (like strong acids or alkalis) or a petroleum product. Those risks outweigh any potential benefit of removing some poison from the stomach.

The recommended actions are to contact the poison control center right away and follow their instructions, and to seek immediate medical care if symptoms worsen (such as trouble breathing, severe dizziness, confusion, seizures, or chest pain). Do not delay by trying to induce vomiting or by giving anything by mouth unless a professional explicitly instructs you to. If possible, have the container or label of the ingested substance available when you seek help.