Be prepared.
Save your poison center's number: 1-800-222-1222 (US only).
Save the webPOISONCONTROL online tool as a browser favorite.
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.
Use child-resistant packaging, especially if young children are ever around. Replace caps securely. Why?
Of children treated in an ER for medicine poisoning, 38% got into a grandparent's medicine.
More grandparents identified electrical outlets than medicine as a top safety issue, but 36 times more children go to the ER for medicine poisoning. Ouch!
Store household products in a different place from food and medicine.
Use medicines safely.
Turn on the lights, put on glasses, and read the label before taking or giving medicine. Follow instructions exactly.
Don't take someone else's medicine.
Use household products as directed on the label. Mixing products can release dangerous gases.
Have grandchildren? Check out the poison prevention tips for the ages of your grandchildren.
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Levetiracetam is prescribed for seizures. The first brand name was Keppra®, but other products are now on the market. Common side effects are drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness and headaches. Mood instability, other neuropsychiatric symptoms, rashes, allergic reactions, and infections are possible. Avoid alcohol, drugs, and supplements with sedative effects while taking levetiracetam.
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Phenytoin may cause sleepiness, confusion, slurred speech, unsteady gait, headache, incoordination, abnormal body movements, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus), unwanted hair growth, and overgrowth of gums. Severe allergic reactions are possible. It interacts with many drugs.
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Mold releases spores that germinate in moisture, warmth, and food. On food, the spores look like colorful fuzz. Drinks may have a bad smell, taste flat, or appear cloudy. Gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory problems and allergic reactions can occur after ingesting moldy food or drink. Some molds produce poisonous mycotoxins. It is best to avoid foods after their “use by” date.
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Poison Prevention Week was established in 1961 to promote public awareness about how to prevent and respond to poison incidents. You can prevent most unintentional poisonings, but when you need it, expert help is just a click or call away.
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Campylobacter is 1 of the most common causes of bacterial diarrhea. The illness is campylobacteriosis. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and pain. Campylobacter is found on raw vegetables, dairy products, poultry, and meat. It is also in the stool of contaminated people and animals. Treatment is mostly supportive; stay hydrated.
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Poison ivy can cause a rash if someone touches it, which is caused by oils in the plant. The rash can be severe enough to blister and itch for days or weeks. Most cases can be managed at home. Severe cases require medical attention. If these plants are burned, inhaling the smoke can cause severe breathing problems.
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Kombucha tea is a slightly effervescent, slightly alcoholic liquid for which many health claims are made. Home-brewed kombucha tea has been associated with several adverse health events. There are no scientific studies to support the many health claims made for kombucha tea, though it has a long history of use.
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Acrylamide is a chemical that can be created by cooking processes including baking, air frying, and toasting. Acrylamide is considered a probable human carcinogen based on the results of studies in laboratory animals. However, there is no conclusive evidence linking dietary acrylamide consumption to cancer in humans.
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Famotidine is a medication commonly used for heartburn, reflux, and other gastric conditions. The dosing of famotidine varies based on the condition being treated, and famotidine is usually taken once or twice daily. Side effects of famotidine include headache and constipation or diarrhea. Use of famotidine has not been associated with cancer development in humans.
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Ethyl chloride is a local anesthetic agent that relieves pain by cooling the skin surface. Ethyl chloride abuse, which occurs when individuals intentionally inhale its vapors, can result in sleepiness, abnormal heart rhythms, and death. Ethyl chloride is flammable and can cause frostbite if used incorrectly.
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