Poison Prevention for Adults

Poison Prevention Tips

  • Be prepared.
    • Put the poison control number (1-800-222-1222, U.S. only) in, on or near your phone.
    • Save webPOISONCONTROL® as a browser favorite (webPOISONCONTROL.org).
  • Install a carbon monoxide alarm in every sleeping area of your home. Keep appliances, furnaces, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves in good repair.
  • Store medicines and products in their original containers.
  • If children live in or visit your home, use child-resistant packaging. Replace caps securely.
  • Store household products in a different place from food and medicine.
  • Use medicines safely.
    • Turn on the lights and read the label before taking or giving medicine. Follow directions exactly.
    • Don't take someone else's medicine.
    • If a medicine doesn't work, don't take extra doses. Contact your health care provider.
  • Use household products as directed on the label. Mixing products can release dangerous gases.
  • Have children? Check out the poison prevention tips for the ages of your children.
  • Follow guidelines for personal protective equipment and ventilation at work.

Related Articles

Borates, Borax, and Boric Acid: Are They Safe? Borates, Borax, and Boric Acid: Are They Safe?
Is Nail Polish Poisonous? Is Nail Polish Poisonous?
Do Multivitamins Really Work? Do Multivitamins Really Work?
What is Fentanyl? What is Fentanyl?
Top Tips for a Safe Spring Cleaning Top Tips for a Safe Spring Cleaning
What is Kratom? What is Kratom?
Are Over-the-Counter Antacids Safe? Are Over-the-Counter Antacids Safe?
Nitazenes: The New Fentanyl? Nitazenes: The New Fentanyl?
No, You Can’t Drink Rubbing Alcohol No, You Can’t Drink Rubbing Alcohol
Naproxen: Side Effects and Overdose Concerns Naproxen: Side Effects and Overdose Concerns
Tianeptine: Gas Station Heroin Tianeptine: Gas Station Heroin
No, Vinegar is Not Always Safe No, Vinegar is Not Always Safe
What you should know about sertraline (Zoloft) What you should know about sertraline (Zoloft)
What is a Borg? What is a Borg?
Is Period Underwear Safe to Use? Is Period Underwear Safe to Use?
Is Metformin Safe? Is Metformin Safe?
Does Boric Acid Treat Vaginal Yeast Infections? Does Boric Acid Treat Vaginal Yeast Infections?
What is Eliquis® (apixaban)? What is Eliquis® (apixaban)?
What is the Morning After Pill? What is the Morning After Pill?
What are Cannabis Drinks? What are Cannabis Drinks?
What is Ozempic? What is Ozempic?
What are abortion pills and are they safe? What are abortion pills and are they safe?
What is Toxic Shock Syndrome? What is Toxic Shock Syndrome?
Is herbal abortion safe? Is herbal abortion safe?
Can Fish Oil Prevent Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia? Can Fish Oil Prevent Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia?
Potential Uses and Benefits of Melatonin Potential Uses and Benefits of Melatonin
Does Grapefruit Juice Interact with Medications? Does Grapefruit Juice Interact with Medications?
Is Botox Safe? Is Botox Safe?
Is it Safe to Take Thyroid Hormones for Weight Loss? Is it Safe to Take Thyroid Hormones for Weight Loss?
What is a Hangover and Can It Be Cured? What is a Hangover and Can It Be Cured?
What are Synthetic Opioids? What are Synthetic Opioids?
Treating Influenza with Baloxavir (Xofluza) Treating Influenza with Baloxavir (Xofluza)
"Needle Spiking" and Other Drug-Facilitated Crimes "Needle Spiking" and Other Drug-Facilitated Crimes
Studies about Delta-9 THC-O Acetate are Limited Studies about Delta-9 THC-O Acetate are Limited
The Potential Dangers of Disposable E-Cigarettes The Potential Dangers of Disposable E-Cigarettes
My Medication Was Recalled Because of Nitrosamines. Should I Be Worried? My Medication Was Recalled Because of Nitrosamines. Should I Be Worried?
Are Genital Desensitizers Safe To Use? Are Genital Desensitizers Safe To Use?
Lime Juice + Sun Can Cause Skin Rashes Lime Juice + Sun Can Cause Skin Rashes
Swallowing Eye Drops is Dangerous! Swallowing Eye Drops is Dangerous!
What is Delta-8 THC? What is Delta-8 THC?
Dry Scooping Can Be Life-Threatening Dry Scooping Can Be Life-Threatening
Well Water Safety Well Water Safety
Mescal Bean Toxicity Mescal Bean Toxicity
Are Styptic Pencils Poisonous? Are Styptic Pencils Poisonous?
Using Oven Cleaners Safely Using Oven Cleaners Safely
Liquid Nitrogen Can Cause Severe Burns Liquid Nitrogen Can Cause Severe Burns
Are Holi Colors Safe? Are Holi Colors Safe?
Brexpiprazole Usage and Side Effects Brexpiprazole Usage and Side Effects
Milkweed Plant Can Cause Serious Poisoning Milkweed Plant Can Cause Serious Poisoning
Safety and Characteristics of Sleep Medications Safety and Characteristics of Sleep Medications
Bongkrekic Acid Poisoning From Fermented Food Bongkrekic Acid Poisoning From Fermented Food
Turmeric: From the Kitchen to Cancer and COVID-19 Turmeric: From the Kitchen to Cancer and COVID-19
Is Eyelash Glue Toxic? Is Eyelash Glue Toxic?
Risks and Side Effects of Eluxadoline for IBS Risks and Side Effects of Eluxadoline for IBS
Are Cocklebur Seeds Safe to Eat? Are Cocklebur Seeds Safe to Eat?
Hydraulic Fluids are Potentially Dangerous Hydraulic Fluids are Potentially Dangerous
Dieffenbachia and Philodendron Dieffenbachia and Philodendron
Is Lube Safe to Swallow? Is Lube Safe to Swallow?
Fireworks Safety Tips Fireworks Safety Tips
The Side Effects of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine The Side Effects of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine
How Dangerous is Pepper Spray? How Dangerous is Pepper Spray?
Is Micellar Water Safe? Is Micellar Water Safe?
Stringray Injuries: Prevention and Treatment Stringray Injuries: Prevention and Treatment
Clenbuterol: Unapproved and Unsafe Clenbuterol: Unapproved and Unsafe
Giant Hogweed and Its Toxic Cousins Giant Hogweed and Its Toxic Cousins
Caution When Using Arnica Products Caution When Using Arnica Products
Povidone - iodine Povidone - iodine
What To Know About Pool Chemical Safety What To Know About Pool Chemical Safety
Are Cleaning Wipes Safe? Are Cleaning Wipes Safe?
An Introduction to Common Tick-borne Diseases An Introduction to Common Tick-borne Diseases
Are Sprouted Potatoes Safe to Eat? Are Sprouted Potatoes Safe to Eat?
Centipede Stings Centipede Stings
Side Effects of Ginseng Supplements Side Effects of Ginseng Supplements
Can Poison Hemlock Be Deadly? Can Poison Hemlock Be Deadly?
Fire Extinguisher Safety Fire Extinguisher Safety
Benefits and Side Effects of Indapamide Benefits and Side Effects of Indapamide
Stung by an Ant? Stung by an Ant?
A New Class of Drugs for Diabetes  A New Class of Drugs for Diabetes 
Are Water Purifying Chemicals Safe? Are Water Purifying Chemicals Safe?
Treating Tick Bites Treating Tick Bites
How to Stop the Opioid Epidemic How to Stop the Opioid Epidemic
Treating and Preventing Opioid Overdose Treating and Preventing Opioid Overdose
History of the Opioid Epidemic History of the Opioid Epidemic
Introduction to the Opioid Epidemic Introduction to the Opioid Epidemic
The Opioid Pendulum: Balancing Risks and Benefits The Opioid Pendulum: Balancing Risks and Benefits
Ginkgo Biloba Ginkgo Biloba
Side Effects of Overactive Bladder Medication Side Effects of Overactive Bladder Medication
Can Menthol Have Harmful Effects? Can Menthol Have Harmful Effects?
Nitrate and Nitrite Poisoning Nitrate and Nitrite Poisoning
Aconitum napellus (Monkshood): A Purple Poison Aconitum napellus (Monkshood): A Purple Poison
Hair Styling Products Hair Styling Products
5-HTP Safety Concerns 5-HTP Safety Concerns
Oops! I Just Took My Dog's Heartworm Medicine Oops! I Just Took My Dog's Heartworm Medicine
Take Acepromazine by Mistake? Take Acepromazine by Mistake?
What's Lycopene? What's Lycopene?
Too Much Tacrine? Too Much Tacrine?
Get To Know webPOISONCONTROL! Get To Know webPOISONCONTROL!
Valerian Benefits and Risks Valerian Benefits and Risks
What You Need to Know About Caulk What You Need to Know About Caulk
Ramelteon - The ABCs of the Sleep Aid Ramelteon - The ABCs of the Sleep Aid

Poisoned? Get Expert Help.

Don't guess what you should do. Get accurate Poison Control answers online or by phone. Both are free and confidential.

Get HELP ONLINE

or CALL 1-800-222-1222

Downloads

Connect with us
on social media!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for news, updates, and events!

Facebook Logo   Instagram Logo   Twitter Logo

Subscribe to The Poison Post®

The Poison Post® is a free, quarterly
e-newsletter delivering poison prevention tips right to your inbox!

The Poison Post

Learn the Poison Prevention Jingles

Learn the Poison Help jingle in English or Spanish. Use these jingles to teach the Poison Control number: 1-800-222-1222. Available for download.

Jingles

Poison Statistics

2013 outcome stats promo graph

National Poisoning Statistics

Support Us

Help us save lives! Donate now so we can continue to provide 24/7 expert help for poison emergencies. Your donation to our 501(c)(3) charitable organization will keep the phone lines open and the app online.

Donate Now