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

Shining a light on spotted lanternflies Shining a light on spotted lanternflies
SNRI antidepressants: Know the risks SNRI antidepressants: Know the risks
Milkweed Plant Can Cause Serious Poisoning Milkweed Plant Can Cause Serious Poisoning
Azaleas and Rhododendrons: "Mad Honey" and Other Surprising Dangers Azaleas and Rhododendrons: "Mad Honey" and Other Surprising Dangers
Insect and Spider Bites: When to Worry Insect and Spider Bites: When to Worry
Virginia Creeper and Wisteria: Pretty But Poisonous Virginia Creeper and Wisteria: Pretty But Poisonous
Poison Ivy: Diagnosis, Treatment, and When to Seek Help Poison Ivy: Diagnosis, Treatment, and When to Seek Help
Pokeberries: A Grape Look Alike Pokeberries: A Grape Look Alike
Protecting Yourself from Wildfire Smoke Protecting Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
Rattlesnake Bites: What You Need to Know Rattlesnake Bites: What You Need to Know
How Dangerous is Pepper Spray? How Dangerous is Pepper Spray?
Is Bubble Solution Toxic? Is Bubble Solution Toxic?
How Venomous are Cottonmouth Snakes? How Venomous are Cottonmouth Snakes?
The Hidden Sting: How Seabather’s Eruption Can Spoil Your Swim The Hidden Sting: How Seabather’s Eruption Can Spoil Your Swim
Are Coral Snakes Poisonous? Are Coral Snakes Poisonous?
Are Tarantulas Dangerous? Are Tarantulas Dangerous?
Everything You Need to Know About Snakebites Everything You Need to Know About Snakebites
Are Copperhead Snakes Venomous? Are Copperhead Snakes Venomous?
Brake Fluid: A Sweet Poison Brake Fluid: A Sweet Poison
Are Sunscreen Products Safe? Are Sunscreen Products Safe?
Are Cherry Pits Really Poisonous? Are Cherry Pits Really Poisonous?
Are Scorpions Venomous? Are Scorpions Venomous?
The Hidden Danger of Foxtail Grass The Hidden Danger of Foxtail Grass
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
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
Fireworks Safety Tips Fireworks Safety Tips
How to Treat a Lionfish Sting How to Treat a Lionfish Sting
Stringray Injuries: Prevention and Treatment Stringray Injuries: Prevention and Treatment
Kissing Bugs and Chagas Disease Kissing Bugs and Chagas Disease
Giant Hogweed and Its Toxic Cousins Giant Hogweed and Its Toxic Cousins
An Introduction to Common Tick-borne Diseases An Introduction to Common Tick-borne Diseases
What to Know About Chlorine Safety What to Know About Chlorine Safety
Can Poison Hemlock Be Deadly? Can Poison Hemlock Be Deadly?
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
Concerns about hair dye: Prevent injuries and allergic reactions Concerns about hair dye: Prevent injuries and allergic reactions
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
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: Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes
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
Are Morning Glories Poisonous? Are Morning Glories Poisonous?
Use DEET Safely Use DEET Safely
Corn Oil? Torch Fuel? Apple Juice? Corn Oil? Torch Fuel? Apple Juice?
Siphoning Gasoline Siphoning Gasoline
Eating Bugs Eating Bugs
Lawn Chemicals Lawn Chemicals
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

Your donation to our 501(c)(3) organization enables us to help those who prefer to go online when faced with a poison emergency. Our webPOISONCONTROL online tool and app is a free, confidential, quick and easy way to get expert help. It has guided more than a million users faced with a poison emergency. 

Donate Now