If a child may have swallowed a poisonous substance or too much medicine, get medical help immediately, even if they seem well. Call 995 if they are unresponsive, have trouble breathing, have a seizure or need emergency rescue. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions. KKH advice on accidental poisoning · SCDF emergency medical services
Keep the container, medicine packet or a clear photo of the label if it is safe to do so. Do not try to make the child vomit. Avoid giving a home remedy, drink or food to try to counteract the substance. For a suspected swallowed button battery, get emergency medical help immediately. KKH advice on accidental poisoning · Consumer Product Safety Office button-battery guidance
- Get medical help promptly after a suspected poisoning.
- Take the packaging or a clear photo if safe and readily available.
- Call 995 for a life-threatening emergency. A suspected swallowed button battery needs immediate emergency medical assessment.
On this page · What to Tell a Doctor or Dispatcher · Suspected Button Battery Swallowing · If the Child Becomes Unresponsive or Has Trouble Breathing · Make a Plan for Shared Care · Frequently Asked Questions
What to Tell a Doctor or Dispatcher
Give the child’s age, approximate weight if known, what may have been swallowed and when it could have happened. Give the medicine strength or product name from the label, and say what amount might be missing. Separate what you know from what you are estimating. If another adult last gave medication, ask them for the time and dose while help is underway. KKH advice on accidental poisoning
Medicines can have delayed effects
KKH highlights paracetamol as an example of a medicine that can cause serious harm after an overdose even if the child initially appears well. Bring the bottle or packet and give details of other products the child may have taken. Seek help promptly without waiting for symptoms. KKH advice on accidental poisoning
Suspected Button Battery Swallowing
Get emergency medical help immediately. A button battery can lodge in the throat and cause serious injury quickly. Tell staff explicitly that it may be a button battery. A photo of the packaging or device can help identify it if immediately available. Keep the focus on getting to care. Consumer Product Safety Office button-battery guidance
If the Child Becomes Unresponsive or Has Trouble Breathing
Call 995. Say where you are and what might have been swallowed. Describe the child’s breathing and responsiveness and follow the operator’s directions. Leave the substance where it is if handling it would put you at risk. Ask another adult to meet responders if that can be done safely. SCDF emergency medical services
Make a Plan for Shared Care
Keep medicines and cleaners secured in their original containers. Check button-battery compartments in toys and remote controls, and keep loose batteries out of reach. If two adults give medicine, use a shared record of the product, dose and time. Keep that record available for grandparents, helpers or other caregivers. KKH advice on accidental poisoning · Consumer Product Safety Office button-battery guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I make the child vomit?
Seek medical help and leave treatment to medical professionals. KKH advises against home remedies and attempts to gag the child. KKH advice on accidental poisoning
What if I cannot find the original container?
Get help promptly and tell the team what you know. Someone else can send a label photo or bring the package if it is found.
Can I wait if the child looks fine?
Some effects are delayed. KKH advises seeking medical attention immediately after suspected poisoning, even if a child appears well. KKH advice on accidental poisoning
Continue With the Singapore Emergency Playbook
- Burns and Scalds in Children in Singapore | First Aid and When to Go to A&E
- Severe Bleeding in Singapore | How to Apply Pressure and When to Call 995
- Child Head Injury in Singapore | Concussion Signs, When to Go to A&E and When to Call 995
- Child Medical Emergency in Singapore
- Child or Infant Choking in Singapore
Guidance checked 8 November 2026.