What Does An Accidental Poisoning Look Like At Home

Poison Safety Tips for Baby’s First Year

TEXAS POISON CENTER NETWORK

By dialing 1-800-222-1222 (put number in your cell phone), the citizens of Texas have contact with a network of nurses, pharmacists, and physicians who have extensive education, training, and expertise in the field of toxicology. If necessary, the staff may refer callers to the nearest hospital and assist in the person’s initial treatment and follow-up care.  Services are free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! Your call is free and confidential.

Changes in our society have dramatically affected the potential for accidental poisonings of children in the home. For instance, with the increasing trend of single-parent families and families in which both parents work outside the home, many elementary-aged students are left in charge of younger siblings. Add the growing use of potentially harmful products in the house, from cleaning supplies and medicines to exotic plants. The result is a dangerous situation for home safety.

The accidental poisoning rate for children in the United States now stands at one poisoning every thirty seconds. Sadly, over 2,880 children have been poisoned accidentally every day, or one in every six children! Prevention is the key to alleviating this tremendous problem.

POISON FACTS

• Thankful, 85% of calls to the poison center can be treated at home. The majority of poisoning involves children under the age of 5.
• Medicines, cleaning products, plants, cosmetics, and pesticides are the most common poisoning agents.

WHAT IS A POISON?

Everyday household products can be poisons if used in the wrong way. However, most poisonings are accidental, occurring in the home.  A poison is anything that can cause illness, injury, or death if eaten, swallowed, spilled on the skin, or inhaled.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU CALL THE POISON CENTER?

• First, you will be connected to a healthcare professional that will assist you with your emergency or answer your poison questions.
• Bring the poisoned product and the victim to the phone with you.
• Provide the name of the product. If difficulty with pronunciation, spell the name of the product to the poison specialist. This is very important.
• Have the following information ready:
  • name
  • telephone number
  • age
  • weight of the victim
• Give detailed information on “what happened.”
• The poison specialist will provide you with the necessary treatment and recommendations.
• A follow-up phone call will usually be done within one hour.

FIRST AID MEASURES:

Above all, if the victim is in a life threatening-situation (for example: not breathing, seizing, or unconscious), call 9-1-1 immediately.

REMOVE POISON FROM CONTACT WITH THE CHILD

• EYES: Flood eye with lukewarm (not hot) water poured from a large glass 2 or 3 inches from the eye. Repeat for 15 minutes. Have the patient blink as much as possible while flooding the eye. DO NOT FORCE THE EYE OPEN.
• SKIN: Remove contaminated clothing and flood skin with water for 10 minutes. Then wash gently with soap and water and rinse.
• MOUTH:
  MEDICINES: Do not give anything by mouth until you have called the poison center first.
  CHEMICALS OR HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS: Unless the patient is unconscious, having convulsions, or cannot swallow, give milk or water immediately, then call the poison center.
• LUNGS: Immediately get the person to fresh air. Avoid breathing fumes. Open doors and windows wide. If the victim is not breathing, start artificial respiration.
• INSECT BITES: Remove stinger when applicable. Suppose the child develops breathing problems or rash call 911.
• VENOMOUS SNAKE BITE:  Remove any jewelry. 
  • Do not cut and try to extract the venom.
  • Do not use ice or a tourniquet.
  • Do not try to capture the snake.
• NEVER make the victim vomit until you have been instructed to do so by the Poison Center or your doctor. It can be dangerous to induce vomiting.

KEEP CALM, BUT DO NOT DELAY IN SEEKING HELP. ALWAYS CALL YOUR POISON CENTER.

POSION PREVENTION TIPS:

• Be prepared!
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm in every sleeping area of your home.
• Poison proof every home where your child spends time. (Don’t forget grandparents’ house).
• Lock household products and medicines out of your child’s reach.  Special locks for cabinets and doors are available at hardware stores. These are easy for adults to use but difficult for small children.  Put all medicine up and away and out of sight.  In 86% of emergency department visits for medicine poisoning, the child got into medicine belonging to a parent or grandparent.  Avoid keeping medicines on countertops or bedside tables.
• Use child-resistant packaging, request from the pharmacist.  Replace caps securely.
• Store household products in a different place from food and medicine.
• Use medicines safely.
  • Read the labels before taking or giving medicine.  Follow instructions exactly.
  • Use the correct dosing syringe or cup, NOT a household spoon.
  • Ask your child’s pediatrician before giving any herbal medicine or supplement.
  • Avoid dosing errors:  If you have multiple caregivers, develop a log or have a system in place so that when a medication is given, the next caregiver will know.
• Keep button batteries out of reach of children.  Secure the battery compartment on remote controls, key fobs, cameras, watches, flameless candles, and every battery-powered product.  Why?  Batteries lodged in the esophagus can burn a hole in just 2 hours, causing death or damage that will require feeding tubes, breathing tubes, and extensive surgical repair.

HOW CAN A POISONING BE PREVENTED?

0-6 months

• Use measuring syringes or droppers given to you by your pharmacist or physician.  Give the right amount.  If you are unsure, check with your pharmacist or physician before giving the medicine. 
• Make sure all your child’s caregivers have clear instructions for giving medication to your child. 
• One common unintentional exposure is to diaper-care products. A parent may set a tube of ointment down beside the baby while applying it. Babies love to pick things up, and the first place they put them is in their mouths.

6-9 months

Your baby is now crawling.  Get on your hands and knees and crawl throughout the house to see what your baby can see. 

• Cleaning products that are commonly kept under cabinets need to be stored out of sight and out of reach.
• Identify all indoor and outdoor plants with your local greenhouse and call Poison Center to see if the plant is dangerous to your child.
• Your baby now has access to the entire floor of your house.  Things your baby may find are medications accidentally dropped.

9 months and Up

Your child has now begun to develop the skills of walking and climbing.  Be constantly aware that your child can and will get into anything, anywhere.

• Medicine cabinets are now within reach.  REMEMBER CHILD SAFETY CAPS ARE NOT CHILDPROOF! It is important to remember the intent of child-resistant packaging is to slow children down. They are not designed to keep them out completely. Children of varying ages will be able to get into child-resistant packages if given enough time.
• Children have access to the entire yard.  Remove all mushrooms, dangerous plants, and pesticide products from the yard.
• Children love to get into parent’s things.  Do not store medications in your purse.  Good idea to keep your purse out of your child’s reach.
• Remember, children’s medicines, such as vitamins, antibiotics, and cough syrups, taste great!  If the child has access to this medication, such as in the refrigerator, he may take it.
• Never tell your child that medication is candy.  Even though this might help you convince your child to take a dose of medication from you, it may also make them think all medications are candy. 
• Remember, a child’s “taste” is still developing.  Just because something tastes bad to you doesn’t mean it will taste bad to your child.
• Alcoholic beverages should not be left within reach of children. Even small amounts of alcohol can cause problems for children.

WHAT TYPES OF THINGS CAN BE POISONOUS?

Cleaning Products

Most cleaning supplies have directions and warnings on the label that tell how the product should be used. Children should always check with an adult before using any product.

Products in spray cans or bottles are hazardous because they can get into the eyes, nose, mouth, lungs, and skin. Unfortunately, children and adults alike are often unaware of the danger. Therefore, ANYONE using spray cans or bottles must be cautious, as accidental spraying can be a danger to other people and pets nearby, as well as to the person who is spraying.

All cleaning products should have labels with directions and warnings and should NEVER be stored in food containers. Instead, always keep household cleaners in their original containers.

Cleaning products act quickly, whether intended or accidentally, as a poison. Older children should always check with an adult before using any cleaning product. Young children should be taught not to touch cleaning products. It is crucial to keep cleaning products out of the reach of small children.

When disposing of empty containers, be sure to rinse them thoroughly before recycling or throwing them in the trash. Children get into the recycling bin too. Some containers might even need particular disposal as household hazardous waste. Read the label on the product for information from the manufacturer concerning specific disposal instructions.

Medication

Medicines are also available in several forms: liquids, pills, sprays, drops, salves, and powders. The medicine helps us get well when we are sick if taken correctly. All medicines have directions and precautions on their labels, and those directions must be followed carefully. Prescription drugs should be taken only under a physician’s guidance and only by the prescribed person. Even one pill ingested by the wrong person can cause severe harm and even death. Medications include prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, laxatives, and vitamins. Many medicines are shaped and colored like candy, and some are sweet tasting.  Medicine should NEVER be taken without adult supervision.

Vitamins

Vitamins are a natural and vital part of our food, but sometimes we need extra vitamins. In the right amount, vitamin pills are helpful to our bodies, but in the wrong amount can cause illness and poisoning. Vitamin pills may look like candy and taste good, but they should be treated like medicine — kept out of reach of children and used only according to directions. Children should NEVER be told that vitamins are candy.

Plants, Berries, and Mushrooms

Plants can be both helpful and harmful. Some parts of a particular plant may be edible, while other parts of the same plant may be poisonous. For instance, rhubarb stalks are good to eat, but the leaves are poisonous. Some plants may be toxic to animals but are not poisonous to people, and vice versa. Plants are frequent causes of poisoning in pets. They should be kept away from houseplants and poisonous plants growing outside.

Children are very often confused about berries and mushrooms. Discuss the difference between wild berries and mushrooms which grow in the yard versus safe berries and mushrooms bought at the grocery store. A good rule is never to eat any plant except those served as food (like carrots, broccoli, and spinach). The TPCN has a poisonous plant list that can serve as a helpful guide.

Cosmetics

Cosmetics are designed to make us look better, smell better, and feel better, but they too can be poisons. Most of the chemicals used in cosmetics today are not toxic to the skin and eyes but can be harmful if ingested. Mouthwash, perfume, aftershave, and cologne all can contain alcohol. Alcohol is not meant to be drunk by children and, if ingested, can cause severe illness and even death. Some dandruff shampoos, those containing phenols or coal tars, can cause severe mucosal burning if ingested. All cosmetics should be kept out of children’s reach.

Pesticides/Insecticides

People use bug killers, weed killers, lawn fertilizers, and other pesticides/insecticides to keep their trees, shrubs, and lawns healthy and insect-free. Unfortunately, these products are poisonous and can be particularly dangerous. Read and follow the directions and precautions on each product’s label carefully every time the product is used. If anyone comes into contact with these products, the skin area must be washed with water immediately. When using an insecticide or mosquito repellent with DEET, be sure it is 10% DEET or less. Flea and tick shampoos used on pets are also considered pesticides and treated the same way.

SEASONAL HAZARDS

SPRING & SUMMER	FALL & WINTER
Pesticide	Antifreeze
Plants, berries, mushrooms	Black widow spider bite
Snakes, spiders, and insects	Plants and autumn berries
Charcoal lighter fluid	Carbon Monoxide
Swimming pool chemicals
Fertilizers

CAMPING HAZARDS	HOLIDAYS
Snakes, spiders, and insects	Thanksgiving-food poisoning
Ticks	Christmas-Christmas plants (holly, mistletoe)
Stove and lantern fuels	Ornaments
Lighter Fluid	Perfumes and aftershaves
	Alcoholic beverages