Many everyday items, such as candies, biscuits, or household appliances, may contain desiccants in their packaging to prolong their shelf life. Desiccants Occasionally, some people accidentally ingest desiccants due to carelessness while eating. Sometimes, curious children at home put desiccants in their mouths and chew on them, causing great worry for parents. So, how should accidental ingestion be handled urgently? Desiccants How should accidental ingestion be handled urgently?

Currently, desiccants on the market are mainly divided into four types: ferric oxide, silica gel, and two other white powders, one being calcium oxide and the other being calcium chloride.

Ferric oxide is brown and has relatively weak irritation. The person who ingested it should drink plenty of water to dilute it. Medical attention should only be sought if a large amount was ingested and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea occur, indicating possible iron poisoning.

Silica gel is a commonly used desiccant, appearing as translucent granules. Due to its porous structure and large adsorption area, it can adsorb various substances. The color in silica gel is added cobalt chloride, used as an indicator. Cobalt chloride is blue when anhydrous and turns pink after absorbing water. Silica gel is not absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted through feces, posing no toxicity to the human body. Therefore, no special treatment is needed after accidental ingestion.

Calcium oxide, commonly known as quicklime, is a white or grayish-white lump with a strong ability to absorb moisture from the air. It is often used for food, clothing, and precision instruments Desiccants . After absorbing water, it turns into powdery calcium hydroxide, also known as slaked lime. Therefore, once it becomes powder, it loses its drying function. If this desiccant is ingested, because calcium oxide releases heat when it turns into calcium hydroxide upon contact with water, it can burn the mouth or esophagus. Calcium hydroxide is alkaline and corrosive to the mouth, throat, and esophagus; if it splashes into the eyes, it can cause damage to the conjunctiva and cornea.

For those who have accidentally ingested this desiccant, do not induce vomiting. Immediately drink milk or water; generally, adults should drink 120-240 ml, and children should drink 10 ml per kilogram of body weight, but the total amount should be less than 200 ml, as excessive water intake may induce vomiting.

Also, do not use any acidic substances to neutralize it, as the heat released from the neutralization reaction can worsen the damage. If the desiccant splashes into the eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water or saline from the nose to the ear for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical attention. For skin contamination, rinse thoroughly with plenty of water; severe cases should be treated as chemical burns.

Calcium chloride is also often used as Desiccants a desiccant. In an anhydrous state, it is a white crystal, mostly granular, blocky, or flaky, with strong water absorption capacity, turning into a liquid state after absorbing water. It is not used as a food desiccant and is mostly used for dehumidification in larger spaces. The treatment after contact is similar to that of calcium oxide.