Greeshma case: What to do if exposed to paraquat, poison used to murder Sharon

The foolproof investigation of the Kerala police was crucial in indicting 23-year-old Thiruvananthapuram native Greeshma, who was recently sentenced to capital punishment in the Sharon murder case. The court that awarded the sentence to Greeshma had praised the investigative skills of the officers who efficiently proved the case that had no eye witness. Greeshma had used the pesticide named 'Paraquat di Chloride' to kill Sharon, who was her boyfriend. The police had researched this pesticide well and its effects on the human body if ingested. The details of it were included in the investigative report that was submitted to the court.

The health consequences
Ulcer-like wounds around the mouth are the first to appear when ingesting Paraquat di Chloride pesticide. The poison would begin to damage the kidneys within 2 – 3 days. Besides, this deadly poison is strong enough to decompose the human liver completely. The Kerala Police submitted the investigative report, including the opinions of noted forensic experts like Dr VV Pillai and Sherly Vasu.

Signs and symptoms of paraquat poisoning
According to the Centre for Disease Control, the effect of the poisoning depends on the amount ingested, how a person was exposed to it and for how long. It can also depend on the fitness of the person who was exposed to it. If a person was exposed to small to medium amounts of paraquat, here are a few of the symptoms that can be noticed in days to weeks:
1) Kidney failure
2) Heart failure
3) Liver failure
4) Lung scarring

If a person gets exposed to a large amount of the pesticide, these symptoms can appear in a few hours to days:
1) Fast heart rate
2) Confusion
3) Coma
4) Acute kidney failure
5) Weakness of muscles
6) Cardiac issues
7) Fluid in the lungs
8) Respiratory failure
9) Seizures

If exposed to paraquat...
1) According to the Centre for Disease Control, most people are exposed to pesticides by swallowing them. Before going to the hospital, they can try swallowing activated charcoal or Fuller's Earth as a preventive measure, as these can stick to the swallowed pesticide.
2) If exposed to liquid paraquat, take off the clothes by cutting them instead of pulling them over your head. If you are helping others who got exposed, do not touch the unsafe areas of the garment. Put the clothes in a plastic bag and don't touch them directly. Hand it over to the local or state health department, and do not reuse the clothes.
3) Use lots of soap and water to wash it off your body
4) Rinse your eyes with plain water for 15 minutes if your eyes are exposed.
5) If your contact lens was exposed, dispose of it
6) If your eyeglasses are exposed, wash them well with soap before using them again.
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