| Is This Plant Poisonous? |
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Poinsettia plants are popular this time of
year.
They
can be found in almost any home.
Is this plant poisonous? Find out here!
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| The Morning After the Holiday Party |
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The morning after the holiday party is a dangerous
time for children. Count on it. They are awake
before the grown-ups. Think of the treats they'll
find:
- Left-over food. It has been spoiling all night. A
few hours after eating "breakfast", the children have
food poisoning.
- Left-over alcoholic beverages. Beer, wine, hard
liquor, champagne punch...all can poison children.
Alcohol can make a child drunk: slow breathing, slow
heart rate, difficult to wake up. It can also cause
low blood sugar, seizures, and coma.
- Cigarette butts left in ashtrays, put out in the
bottom of a drink, or thrown in the trash. These are
all dangerous to children. A child who swallows just
a few cigarette butts can have nicotine poisoning:
vomiting, clammy skin, and seizures.
Prevent this nightmare from happening to your
family. Before you go to bed, take a few simple safety
steps!
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| Button Batteries: Are They Dangerous? |
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Toys. Remote controls. Cameras. Watches. Hearing
aids. They all contain small button batteries.
Children can remove them from toys, pull them from
the trash, and find them on the floor.
These batteries are easy for children to swallow or
stuff up their noses or into their ears. Is this dangerous?
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| It's Tax Deductible |
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The Poison Center's holiday fund-raising drive is
in full swing, and every gift is gratefully received.
Every gift is also tax deductible.
Please make a donation to help keep the Poison
Center's emergency phone lines open on Christmas
Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and every other
day of the year. The Poison Center is here 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year to keep callers safe from
poison.
The Poison Center is a non-profit organization. It is
NOT a government agency. Please make a donation
now -- and remember, all donations are tax
deductible!
To make a donation, visit our website; designate
the Poison Center in your workplace United Way or
CFC Campaign; or mail a check.
Web address: www.poison.org/donate
United Way or CFC designation: 8476
Mail check:
National Capital Poison Center
3201 New Mexico Ave, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20016
Thank You!
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Poisonings Go Up When Families Travel |
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When a child's routine is changed, a poisoning is
more likely. This is true when the child travels
with family AND when guests visit the child's home.
Don't let poison spoil your visit!
At home:
- Give guests a safe place to lock up medicines,
including the medicines in suitcases and
handbags.
- Remind visitors that children love to imitate
adults. It's important to keep their medicines where
children can't see or reach them. Ask them to take
their medicines where children can't watch.
- Be sure that one person is responsible for
watching each child. It's easy for children to find
medicines and poisons if everyone thinks someone
else is paying attention.
On the road:
- Keep medicines locked in a suitcase or other
container. Store this container up high. Often,
medicines and vitamins are left in places where
children can reach.
- Remember that we often put medicines in
handbags and diaper bags. Keep these out of
reach.
- Bring the poison center phone number with you.
Call 1-800-222-1222 from any place in the United
States to reach the local poison center, 24 hours a
day.
Away from home:
- Poison-proof any place where you stay. Lock
medicines and household products where children
can't see or reach. Use child-resistant packaging on
medicines and household products.
- Remind others to lock medicines where children
can't see them.
- Check other safety features, too: outlet covers,
gates at the tops and bottom of stairs, window blind
cords, etc. Reassure your hosts you are not
questioning their safety standards, but that your
young children are at risk.
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