Poison Prevention Week

Mar 23, 2022

It is National Poison Prevention Week—a week designed to shed light on the dangers of substances to adults, children, and pets. So what is a poison? A poison is any substance that is harmful to your body. You might swallow it, inhale it, inject it, or absorb it through your skin. Any substance can be poisonous if too much is taken. We wanted to recap some simple facts and tips regarding poison to help keep you and your family safe. 

Common sources of poison include (but are not limited to):

• Carbon monoxide
• Household chemicals
• Food and alcohol
• Lead
• Medications and vitamins
• Plants
• Tobacco/e-cigarettes

How can you be exposed to poisons?

• Ingestion
• Inhalation
• Injection
• Through the skin or eyes

How you can you prevent poisoning? While this is not a limited list, here are some top tips to keeping your family, including pets, safe:

• Store all medications, vitamins, and cleaners in their original containers in a cabinet with a safety latch or lock.
• Look for child and pet resistant containers when buying hazardous items
• Keep bags and purses are out of reach of children if containing any medications or vitamins
• Use only the measuring device included with liquid medicine. Do not substitute another item, such as a kitchen spoon. This could lead to dosing errors.
• Always take and provide medications in a well-lit area to avoid giving the wrong dose
• Do not tell a child that medications taste like candy
• Keep batteries stored away and ensure battery compartments are sealed tight
• Keep plants up high and out of reach
• Throw all used tobacco products in the garbage and store unused products safely
• Keep the poison control numbers (person and pet) saved in your phone
• Discuss any over the counter medications and vitamins with your provider to avoid any interactions
• Install carbon monoxide detectors near bedrooms on each level of the house, and be sure to change the batteries regularly

What numbers should you keep in your phone?

• National Poison Control Hotline: 1-800-222-1222
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435
• Pet Poison Helpline: 1-800-213-6680

Finally, if you have children at home, it’s important to start teaching them about the dangers of poison and preventing accidents. Here are some fun worksheets to teach kids about poison!
Poison Learning Checklist
Poison Word Search Puzzle
Virtual Storytime for Kids "Poison Alert!"
Toxic Trivia for Teens (4+ players)

 

References:
https://medlineplus.gov/poisoning.html
https://www.poison.org/
https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
https://aapcc.org/
https://sdpoison.org/about-the-poison-center/