Summer Poison Prevention

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).
  • Store medicines and products in their original containers. 
  • Topical pain relievers for sunburn often contain anesthetics - pain relievers that can cause seizures if swallowed. Make sure they are in child resistant containers and kept out of reach of small children.
  • Foraging in the woods?  Camping out? Don’t eat it unless you are certain you know that plant! Plant look-alikes can fool the best of us. For example, wild carrots or parsnips resemble hemlock.
  • Avoid wild mushrooms. Get your mushrooms from the market. Only experts can tell the poisonous ones from the safe ones. The most toxic mushrooms, called “death caps” (Amanita species) may be growing in your own yard. Just a few bites can cause fatal liver damage.
  • Keep poison ivy out of your camp fire! The smoke from burning poison ivy contains the toxic oils, causing blisters inside your nose, throat and airways.
  • Bitten by a snake? Avoid tourniquets and suction. Call poison control for guidance.
  • Barbecue safety: Charcoal lighter fluid is dangerous if swallowed. It easily seeps into the lungs. Keep lighter fluid and other hydrocarbons (gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner, lamp oil, baby oil, furniture polish) away from kids!
  • Keep the alcoholic drinks away from children! Alcohol causes a child’s blood sugar to drop, leading to seizures, coma and even death.
  • Mind the medicines when you travel or have visitors in your home. Suitcases or purses may contain dangerous medications, often without even a child-resistant closure.
  • Picnic safety: Keep cold foods cold, in a cooler and in the shade. Do not consume perishable foods that have been left out for more than two hours – or more than one hour if the temperature is over 90 °F.
  • Avoid areas sprayed with a pesticide until the pesticide has dried for at least one hour.

Related Articles

Are Tarantulas Dangerous? Are Tarantulas Dangerous?
The Hidden Danger of Foxtail Grass The Hidden Danger of Foxtail Grass
Are Copperhead Snakes Venomous? Are Copperhead Snakes Venomous?
Are Sunscreen Products Safe? Are Sunscreen Products Safe?
Identifying, Treating and Preventing Swimmer's Itch Identifying, Treating and Preventing Swimmer's Itch
What Happens If A Skunk Sprays Me? What Happens If A Skunk Sprays Me?
Allergic Reactions to the Black-Eyed Susan Flower Allergic Reactions to the Black-Eyed Susan Flower
Seabather's Eruption Symptoms and Treatment Seabather's Eruption Symptoms and Treatment
Are Itch Mite Bites Dangerous? Are Itch Mite Bites Dangerous?
Does Sunscreen Cause Cancer? Does Sunscreen Cause Cancer?
Can Sunscreen Cause A Sunburn? Can Sunscreen Cause A Sunburn?
Lime Juice + Sun Can Cause Skin Rashes Lime Juice + Sun Can Cause Skin Rashes
Use Pest Strips As Directed! Use Pest Strips As Directed!
Poisoning from Frogs, Newts, Toads, and Salamanders Poisoning from Frogs, Newts, Toads, and Salamanders
Coral Snake Bite Treatment Coral Snake Bite Treatment
Fireworks Safety Tips Fireworks Safety Tips
How to Treat a Lionfish Sting How to Treat a Lionfish Sting
How Dangerous is Pepper Spray? How Dangerous is Pepper Spray?
Stringray Injuries: Prevention and Treatment Stringray Injuries: Prevention and Treatment
Giant Hogweed and Its Toxic Cousins Giant Hogweed and Its Toxic Cousins
Kissing Bugs and Chagas Disease Kissing Bugs and Chagas Disease
What To Know About Pool Chemical Safety What To Know About Pool Chemical Safety
An Introduction to Common Tick-borne Diseases An Introduction to Common Tick-borne Diseases
Virginia Creeper and Wisteria Toxicity Virginia Creeper and Wisteria Toxicity
Can Poison Hemlock Be Deadly? Can Poison Hemlock Be Deadly?
I Swallowed A Cherry Pit! I Swallowed A Cherry Pit!
Stung by an Ant? Stung by an Ant?
Are Pyracantha Berries Poisonous? Are Pyracantha Berries Poisonous?
Are Water Purifying Chemicals Safe? Are Water Purifying Chemicals Safe?
Treating Tick Bites Treating Tick Bites
Brake Fluid (diethylene glycol) Brake Fluid (diethylene glycol)
SNRI Antidepressants SNRI Antidepressants
Concern about Hair Dye Concern about Hair Dye
Don't Get Burned by Cement Don't Get Burned by Cement
Insect Repellents Insect Repellents
Harmful Algal Blooms Harmful Algal Blooms
Mosquitoes - Annoying Insects that can Spread Disease Mosquitoes - Annoying Insects that can Spread Disease
Foxglove - Toxic to the Heart Foxglove - Toxic to the Heart
Azaleas and Rhododendrons Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Poisonous and Non-Poisonous Plants Poisonous and Non-Poisonous Plants
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac
Brown Recluse Spider Bites Brown Recluse Spider Bites
Are Caterpillars Poisonous? Are Caterpillars Poisonous?
Food Poisoning Food Poisoning
Jellyfish: A Pain at the Beach Jellyfish: A Pain at the Beach
OUCH! That Stuff Got in My Eye! OUCH! That Stuff Got in My Eye!
Food Poisoning from Fish: Scombroid Food Poisoning from Fish: Scombroid
Wild Mushroom Warning Wild Mushroom Warning
Corn Oil? Torch Fuel? Apple Juice? Corn Oil? Torch Fuel? Apple Juice?
Siphoning Gasoline Siphoning Gasoline
Are Morning Glories Poisonous? Are Morning Glories Poisonous?
Use DEET Safely Use DEET Safely
Snakebites in March? Snakebites in March?
Lawn Chemicals Lawn Chemicals
Eating Bugs Eating Bugs
Pokeberries: A Grape Look Alike Pokeberries: A Grape Look Alike
Bee Stings: Is It an Allergic Reaction? Bee Stings: Is It an Allergic Reaction?
Black Widow Spider Bites Can Be Dangerous Black Widow Spider Bites Can Be Dangerous
Cocoa Bean Mulch Can Poison Dogs Cocoa Bean Mulch Can Poison Dogs
Lyme Disease Lyme Disease
Gasoline and Toddlers: Summer Risks Gasoline and Toddlers: Summer Risks

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

Get the App!

Download the free
webPOISONCONTROL® app.

apple-logogoogle-app

Connect with us
on social media!

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

Facebook Logo   Instagram Logo   Twitter Logo

Poison Statistics

2013 outcome stats promo graph

National Poisoning Statistics

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

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