How To Help Someone Who Has Swallowed Gasoline - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow What to Do if You or Someone Else Has Swallowed Gasoline PDF download Download Article Expert-verified ways to help prevent gasoline poisoning Co-authored by Dale Prokupek, MD and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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  • Small Amounts of Gasoline
    • |
  • Large Amounts of Gasoline
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Dale Prokupek, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Dale Prokupek, MD is a board-certified Internist and Gastroenterologist who runs a private practice based in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Prokupek is also a staff physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an associate clinical professor of medicine at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Prokupek has over 30 years of medical experience and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the liver, stomach, and colon, including chronic hepatitis C, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, anal condyloma, and digestive diseases related to chronic immune deficiency. He holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed an internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a gastroenterology fellowship at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 504,986 times.

Swallowing gasoline can be an unpleasant or frightening experience, and if you swallow more than just a mouthful or have trouble breathing, a seizure, or other symptoms, you'll need emergency medical treatment. If you or someone you know has swallowed gasoline, the best thing you can do is call Poison Control—but there’s still plenty that you and the victim can do in the meantime. We’ll walk you through the best ways to respond to both small and large ingestions of gasoline so the victim can get the best possible prognosis.

Things You Should Know

  • Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate medical guidance.[1]
  • Never force the victim to vomit up the gasoline. If they do vomit, keep their head down so the gasoline doesn’t make it to their lungs.
  • Call emergency services immediately if the victim is unresponsive, seizing, or having trouble breathing.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Small Amounts of Gasoline

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  1. Step 1 Call Poison Control right away at 1-800-222-1222. 1 Call Poison Control right away at 1-800-222-1222. Share some basic information about the victim, like their age, weight, and current symptoms. It’s also important to mention how much gasoline was swallowed, as well as when it was swallowed.[2] Poison Control puts you in touch with a medical expert who can give you specific first-aid advice. They can also advise on whether or not you need emergency medical assistance.[3]
    • You can also use Poison Control’s diagnostic website for quick first-aid guidance. If you live outside of the US, click here for an international directory of poison control hotlines.
    • In most cases, drinking a little gasoline won’t cause any harm, so don’t panic. That said, gasoline contains harmful chemicals that can potentially lead to dangerous side effects (like trouble breathing and vomiting).[4] So, it’s important to get medical guidance as soon as possible.
    • Warning: Call emergency services immediately if the individual who swallowed gasoline struggles to breathe, is unresponsive, and/or seizes.
  2. Step 2 Stay with the victim and help them remain calm. 2 Stay with the victim and help them remain calm. Remind the victim that they’re not alone and that you’ve already taken steps to help them stay safe and healthy. If they’re starting to panic, sit next to them and breathe slowly in and out—this can help them to manage their breathing, too.[5]
    • If the person is really starting to panic, encourage them breathe along slowly with you.
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  3. Step 3 Watch for vomiting but don’t encourage them to do it. 3 Watch for vomiting but don’t encourage them to do it. If the person vomits up the gasoline, they risk getting some of the toxins into their lungs, which is even worse than having it in their stomach. If they throw up independently, help them keep their head down so the gasoline is less likely to be aspirated.[6]
    • Only induce vomiting if a poison control expert advises you to.
    • Getting gasoline in the lungs can lead to serious issues, such as breathing difficulties or contracting pneumonia.[7]
  4. Step 4 Give the victim a glass of water or milk to drink after rinsing their mouth out with water. 4 Give the victim a glass of water or milk to drink after rinsing their mouth out with water. Encourage them to drink slowly to avoid coughing or choking. If the victim is not conscious or able to drink on their own, do not try to administer fluids, but instead call emergency services immediately.[8]
    • Always double-check with a poison control expert before letting the victim drink anything.
    • Steer clear of alcoholic or carbonated beverages, as they could make the victim’s stomach hurt more.[9]
  5. Step 5 Help the victim get any gasoline off of their skin. 5 Help the victim get any gasoline off of their skin. Make sure the victim removes any clothing that came in contact with the gasoline.[10] Then, rinse off the affected skin with plenty of water for a minimum of 15 minutes.[11]
    • If gasoline gets in their eyes: Help the victim rinse out their eyes with plenty of clean water for at least 15 minutes.
    • If they breathed in gasoline: Encourage them to head outside and get plenty of fresh
    • If the gasoline is on their clothes: Air the clothes out for at least 24 hours, giving the fumes a chance to evaporate before being laundered. Then, wash the clothes separately from other your other garments in hot water with 1⁄4  c (59 mL) of ammonia and a tiny bit of laundry detergent. Never tumble-dry clothes that smell like gasoline, or else they could combust.[12]
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Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Large Amounts of Gasoline

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  1. Step 1 Get the gasoline away from the person. 1 Get the gasoline away from the person. The first priority is to make sure that the victim does not ingest any more gasoline. If the victim is unconscious, proceed directly to the next step.
    • If you suspect that your child has swallowed gasoline but don’t know how much, treat it as an emergency situation and call emergency services.
  2. Step 2 Call emergency services. 2 Call emergency services. Explain the situation in as much detail as you can, mentioning the victim’s age and what symptoms they’re experiencing.[13] If the victim is a child, make it very clear that you require immediate assistance.
    • Gasoline poisoning can present a wide range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, a swollen throat, trouble breathing, dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, staggering, and more.[14]
  3. Step 3 Monitor the victim closely. 3 Monitor the victim closely. If the victim is conscious, reassure them that help is on the way, and do not encourage vomiting. If the person seems able, offer them water to drink, and help them remove any gasoline-covered clothing and rinse any gasoline from their skin.
    • If the victim vomits: Help them lean forward, or turn their head to the side to prevent choking and aspiration.[15]
    • Be on the lookout for serious side effects like seizures, a lack of responsiveness, low blood pressure, and complete collapse.[16]
  4. Step 4 Perform CPR... 4 Perform CPR immediately if the victim stops breathing. Roll the victim onto their back and begin chest compressions. For each compression, push down on the center of the victim's chest 2 in (5.1 cm). Give 30 rapid compressions at a rate of about 100 per minute.[17] Then tilt the victim's head back and lift their chin. Pinch the victim's nose, and blow into their mouth until you see their chest rise. Give two breaths that each last about 1 second, and then another series of chest compressions.[18]
    • Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions and two breaths until the victim recovers or help arrives.
    • If you are on the phone with emergency services, the operator will coach you through the process of administering CPR.
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Expert Q&A

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Tips

  • Always store gasoline in an approved container, leaving it out of children’s reach in a dark area. Use your stored gasoline within 1 year.[19] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Warnings

  • The effects of drinking gasoline can be long-term, especially if the gasoline creates burns in your digestive system or lungs. These burns can lead to ongoing complications, like difficulty swallowing or breathing.[20] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Never siphon gas with your mouth—always use a siphon pump instead.[21] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Make sure that the victim doesn’t smoke for at least 72 hours (and be sure not to smoke around the victim yourself). Gasoline and gasoline vapors are very flammable, and smoking could lead to a fire. Cigarette smoke can also exacerbate any damage done to the victim’s lungs by the gasoline. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ https://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/about-us
  2. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002806.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.poison.org/actfast
  4. ↑ https://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/gasoline.htm
  5. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-together/201912/how-to-help-someone-you-love-calm-down
  6. ↑ https://www.valero.com/sites/default/files/2019-12/sds_us_-_002-ghs_unleaded_gasoline_rev1_5-14_0.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.poison.org/articles/gasoline-and-toddlers-summer-risks
  8. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002806.htm
  9. ↑ https://poisons.co.nz/articles-and-info/first-aid/view/vomiting-first-aid-for-poisoning-an-incorrect-assumption/
More References (12)
  1. ↑ https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=first-aid-for-poisonings-in-a-child-90-P02815
  2. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002806.htm
  3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-together/201912/how-to-help-someone-you-love-calm-down
  4. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-poisoning/basics/art-20056657
  5. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002806.htm
  6. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-poisoning/basics/art-20056657
  7. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002806.htm
  8. ↑ https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/cpr-steps
  9. ↑ https://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/quickcpr.html
  10. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-store-gasoline/
  11. ↑ https://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/gasoline.htm
  12. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-siphon-gas/

About This Article

Dale Prokupek, MD Co-authored by: Dale Prokupek, MD Board Certified Internist & Gastroenterologist This article was co-authored by Dale Prokupek, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Dale Prokupek, MD is a board-certified Internist and Gastroenterologist who runs a private practice based in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Prokupek is also a staff physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an associate clinical professor of medicine at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Prokupek has over 30 years of medical experience and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the liver, stomach, and colon, including chronic hepatitis C, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, anal condyloma, and digestive diseases related to chronic immune deficiency. He holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed an internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a gastroenterology fellowship at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. This article has been viewed 504,986 times. 14 votes - 51% Co-authors: 51 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 504,986 Categories: First Aid and Emergency Health Care

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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Article SummaryX

If you’re with an adult who has swallowed more than an ounce of gasoline or a child who has swallowed any amount of gasoline, get the gasoline away from them and call emergency services immediately. No matter how much gasoline they swallowed, stay with the person and help them stay calm. Also, don’t encourage them to vomit, since fumes from the vomited gasoline could harm their lungs. Once they’re calm enough, have them rinse their mouth out with water and drink a little water or juice. Finally, call your local poison control number for advice about what to do next. Read on for more advice from our Medical co-author, including how to help if the person experiences severe symptoms after swallowing gasoline. Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Oct 16, 2016

    "The not throwing up part helped. I would tell someone to vomit, but now I know better."
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Dale Prokupek, MD Co-authored by: Dale Prokupek, MD Board Certified Internist & Gastroenterologist 14 votes - 51% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 51 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 504,986 Anonymous

Anonymous

Oct 16, 2016

"The not throwing up part helped. I would tell someone to vomit, but now I know better." Sophia Graham

Sophia Graham

Sep 27, 2016

"Great, perfect quality ,understood clearly what was to be done and not done." B. Schaffer

B. Schaffer

Dec 25, 2016

"Glad I read this, more at ease." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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