Keep this number by all phones
Did you know that in 2007 there were over 70 thousand calls for poison exposures handled by the Virginia Poison Control network! The majority of those are for children under 5. Are parent’s forgetting to lock up the cleaners and potential poisons? Or are they not teaching their children that these items are poison? There could be a lot of reasons.
I remember the Mr. Yuck stickers that were used to warn children about poison. They had the green guy with his toung hanging out. My mom lectured me on poisons and not to touch anything with Mr. Yuck on it. So, I found myself affraid of him, but yet fasinated by the yuck – I know I am weird. But, I never drank laundry detergent, so I guess it worked for me. Now we need to support the poison centers in Virginia with their outreach and education efforts.
Hospitals, EMS agencies, Regional EMS Councils and other organizations can take this week as a time to remind their communities of the dangers of poison and toxin exposures and to make sure that everyone has the hotline handy! Because calls to the hotline have reduced illness, death and even health care costs by eliminated needless visits to the ER.
Here are some messages that you can share and some resources for your education efforts:
- Keep the poison center hotline (1-800-222-1222) near your phone or program it into your cell phone
- Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after use.
- Keep all chemicals and medicines locked up and out of sight.
- Call the poison center hotline 1-800-222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning.
- When products are in use, never let young children out of your sight, even if you must take the child or product along when answering the phone or doorbell.
- Keep items in original containers.
- Leave the original labels on all products, and read the label before using.
- Always leave the light on when giving or taking medicine. Check the dosage every time.
- Avoid taking medicine in front of children. Refer to medicine as “medicine,” not “candy.”
- Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically, and safely dispose of unneeded medicines when the illness for which they were prescribed is over.
- Visit www.poisonprevention.orgfor more tips and information or the OEMS Web site on the Virginia Poison Control Network www.vdh.virginia.gov/OEMS/PoisonControl/index.htm
Be safe and enjoy the weekend!
