Foreigner Nearly Dies After Mistaking Chemical for Sugar

Source: OT-Team(G),河南广播电视台法治频道

  Recently, the Emergency Medicine Department at the Northern Campus of Zhengzhou People's Hospital successfully treated a foreign national who had suffered chemical poisoning. 

  Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the patient, who was in distress, and promptly conducted an electrocardiogram and monitored vital signs. They also established an intravenous line to stabilize the patient.

  Upon returning to the hospital, Feng Yacong, the head nurse of the emergency department, used translation software to patiently communicate with the patient while urgently working to determine the cause of the poisoning. After repeated discussions, it was confirmed that the patient had mistakenly added an unknown white powder to a vegetable salad, thinking it was sugar. About 30 minutes after consuming the salad, the patient began experiencing nausea and stomach pain.

  Doctors suspected the substance was either borax or sodium nitrite. Upon examining the physical properties of the white powder, it was confirmed to be borax. The medical team immediately performed gastric lavage and administered medication to protect the stomach lining. After receiving prompt and effective treatment, the patient has now safely been discharged from the hospital.

  What is Borax?

  Borax is a toxic chemical compound that, while used in medical applications, is strictly prohibited in food products. Because it closely resembles salt or sugar in appearance, it can easily be mistaken for these substances and accidentally ingested. As little as one gram of borax can cause poisoning, and 15 grams can be fatal. People who have borax at home should store it properly and keep it separate from food items like salt or sugar to avoid such accidents.