Parents Perceived First Aid Skills in Dealing with the Ingested Poisoning Products, Saudi Arabia, a Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Toxins are substances that can lead to harmful effects when introduced to the body. Accidental poisonings remain a critical concern for pediatric health, so understanding the nature of toxins and the potential risks associated with them is a fundamental aspect of child safety. Parents' knowledge and attitudes towards toxins and poisoning incidents significantly influence the outcomes of accidental exposures. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study conducted across various regions of Saudi Arabia in March 2024. Participants were selected by convenience sampling. A total of 1,997 participants took the self-administered questionnaire. Results: The majority of the participants are married and Saudis. 36.7% of parents had neutral feelings towards handling a child poisoning incident, while 27.4% knew how to handle these situations. 74.1% of parents knew who to contact in a poisoning incident. When a child swallows a poison, 44% of parents would take them to the Emergency Room immediately, 26% would give milk, and 19.5% would induce vomiting. In case a child inhales a poison, 45.9% of parents would go to the Emergency room, and 40.9% would move the child to an area with fresh air. If a child had a poisonous substance to the eyes or applied to the skin, 43% of parents would wash it with cold water. Unconsciousness (91.2%), vomiting (90.3), difficulty breathing (88.2%), and abdominal pain (88.2%) were the most common symptoms raising suspicion of a poisoning incident. Only 31.8% of the parents had First Aid skills. Conclusion: There is notable awareness among parents regarding the need for immediate action in poisoning incidents. However, the lack of parents' knowledge of first aid skills emphasizes the importance of improving parents' knowledge and preparedness in dealing with such incidents. To reduce the lack of first-aid knowledge among parents, promoting campaigns and first-aid training programs are recommended. Keywords: Children; Poison; Incident; First Aid; Saudi Arabia.