Transcript Poison Prevention - Injury Free Coalition for Kids

Poisonings
Poisonings
Wendy J. Pomerantz, M.D., M.S.
Definition
Definition
•Anything someone eats, drinks,
breaths in, or gets in their eyes or on
their skin that can cause illness or
death
•Can be solids, liquids, gases, or
aerosols
Examples
of
Poisons
Examples of Poisons
Household Products/Chemicals
Hair relaxer
Hair removal products
Mouthwash
Liquid drain openers
Toilet bowl cleaners
Oven cleaners
Lamp oil
Plants
Pesticides
Furniture polish
Windshield washer fluid
Kerosene
Cigarettes
Antifreeze
Turpentine
Paint thinner
Examples
of
Poisons
Cont.
Examples of Poisons Cont’d
Medications
Prescription pharmaceuticals
Over-the-counter
Alcohols
Gases and Fumes
Carbon monoxide
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
•Third leading cause of unintentional
injury deaths and suicide deaths in
the U.S.
•Report by poison control centers in
2000:
- 2.2 million poison exposures
- 500,000 people treated in healthcare
facilities
- 20,230 deaths
•7.3 deaths/100,000 population
•184.0 nonfatal poisonings/100,000 pop.
Types
of
Poisonings
Types of Poisonings

Acute
– Unintentional ingestions by toddlers
– Suicide attempt by adolescents

Chronic
– Lead poisoning in children in old
houses
– Daily pesticide exposure in children
living on farms
Poisoning Facts in Children
Poisoning Facts in Children

A child is poisoned every 30 minutes in the U.S.

60% of all poisonings in kids less than 6 years old

In 2000:
–
over 1.1 million unintentional poisonings in kids less
than 5 years old
– 26 kids less 12 years old died; 20 less than 6 years old

In children less than 5 years old, more than 50%
of all poisonings came from non-pharmaceutical
products

Immediately calling a poison control center may
decrease the likelihood of severe poisoning
RiskRisk
Factors
for
Poisoning
Factors for Poisoning
•Unsupervised home setting
•African American race
•Males less than 5 years old
•Lower level of education
•Substance abuse
•Depressed adolescents
•Adolescent females
Cost
Cost
•Total annual cost more than $7.6 billion
among children less than 14 years old.
•Children 4 years old and younger account
for $5.1 billion
•Medical expenses average $925 per case
•Average cost of inpatient treatment is
$8,700
•Between 1996 and 1998, there were
1,252,904 years of potential life lost in
the U.S. from poisoning deaths
Poisonings are Preventable
Poisonings Are Preventable
Poison
Prevention
Tips
Poison Prevention Tips

Store all medications, including over-thecounter medications:
– Out of sight and reach of children
– In child-resistant bottles
– In locked cabinets

Be sure that caps of medications and
household products are always on tight

Do not remove child-resistant caps

Never refer to medications or vitamins as
“candy”

Teach children about poisonous substances
Poison Prevention Tips Cont.
Poison Prevention Tips Cont’d
Keep purses and other bags with
medications out of reach of children;
remind visitors to do the same
 Do not take medications or give
medications to others in front of
children
 Store all household products and
chemicals out of reach of children
 Be sure to return household products
and chemicals to a safe place
immediately after use

Poison Prevention Tips Cont.
Poison Prevention Tips Cont’d
Store all household products in their
original, labeled containers; do not
transfer to other containers such as
soda cans, milk cartons, or water jugs
 Throw away old medications and other
potential poisons that are not used
anymore
 Use cabinet latches to prevent children
from getting to household products and
medications
 Never leave a child alone with
medications or household products

Poison Prevention Tips Cont.
Poison Prevention Tips Cont’d

Know which plants in your home are toxic; be
sure to keep toxic plants out of reach of
children

Make sure there is no peeling or chipped paint
in areas where children eat, sleep or play

Install functioning smoke detectors and carbon
monoxide detectors near sleeping areas

Teach grandparents, other relatives and
friends to take precautions before children
visit their homes

Keep poison control center number near all
telephones
National
Toll-Free
Number
National Toll-Free Number
for Poison Control Centers
1-800-222-1222
If a Poisoning Occurs
If a Poisoning Occurs
 Stay calm.

If the poison is swallowed: do not give the
child anything to eat or drink; do not make the
person throw up or give Syrup of Ipecac unless
directed by the poison center or a doctor and
immediately contact the poison control center

If the poison is inhaled, move the child to
fresh air and immediately contact the poison
control center

If the poison is on the skin, remove
contaminated clothing and rinse the skin with
water for 10 minutes, then contact the poison
control center

If the poison is in the eye, flush the eye with
water for 15 minutes, then contact the poison
control center
If a If
Poisoning
Occurs
Cont.
a Poisoning Occurs Cont’d

Contact the poison control center at
1-800-222-1222 and have the following
information available:
– Time the poisoning occurred
– Product that the child was exposed to; have
–
–
–
–
–

the container nearby
How much the child ingested
Any treatment given
Child’s age, weight, and condition
Any preexisting medical problems
Your name and telephone number
Follow instructions given by the poison
center.
For Further
Information
For Further Information
Contact:
– American Association of Poison
Control Centers at
http://www.aapcc.org/
– Your local poison control center
– Poison Prevention Week Council at
http://www.poisonprevention.org/