Shellac contains methanol, which can cause fatal damage to the kidneys, as well as blindness. It also causes a disturbance in blood pH which can lead to multiple system failure and death.

• methanol

• paint remover
• shellac

• body as a whole
  • weakness
  • leg cramps
  • convulsions
  • severe disturbance in blood pH leading to multi-organ failure
• Kidneys
  • renal failure
• respiratory
  • rapid, shallow breathing
  • stopped breathing (see breathing difficulties - first aid)
• eyes, ears, nose, and throat
  • blurred vision
  • blindness
  • dilation of the pupils
• skin
  • cyanosis (blue skin, lips, or fingernails)
• gastrointestinal
  • nausea
  • vomiting
• heart and blood vessels
  • low blood pressure
• nervous system
  • coma
  • fatigue
  • headache
  • dizziness

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• For swallowed poison
  • Immediate hemodialysis may be required for survival
  • Placement of a tube down the nose and into the stomach (a nasogastric tube, or an NG tube) to wash out the stomach
  • Activated charcoal administration
  • Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach.
  • Give IV fluids
  • Admission to the hospital
  • Give an antidote
  • Treat the symptoms
• For inhaled poisons
  • A breathing tube may need to be inserted
  • Oxygen
  • Admission to the hospital or to the intensive care unit
  • Bronchoscopy (inserting a camera down the throat into the airway to evaluate the extent of burns to the airway and lungs)
• For skin exposure
  • Irrigation (washing of the skin), perhaps every few hours for several days
  • Skin debridement (surgical removal of burned skin)
  • Admission or transfer to a hospital that specializes in burn care