Transcript Senior Poison, Medication, and Food Safety

Florida Injury Prevention
Programs for Seniors (FLIPS)
Senior Poison, Medication,
and Food Safety
Professional Module
Overview of FLIPS
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Professionals—physical therapists, health
educators, nurses, practitioners, researchers,
etc.
Focus—fall prevention; fire safety; and poison
prevention - medication and food safety
Satellite groups
Janet Lehman—FLIPS coordinator in DOEA.
Email: [email protected]
The Facts: Are Seniors Beyond The
Risk of a Poisoning Incident?
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Poison gets in the body through inhalation or
contact with the mouth, skin, and/or eyes
Annually in America, 80,000 seniors are
poisoned by:
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organisms in food
bites and stings
medications
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substances of abuse
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chemicals
plants
home and personal
products
Poison Trivia
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Which is the most dangerous product for a
child to swallow?
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Calamine lotion
Laundry bleach (5% chlorine)
Arthritis pain relief ointment (with oil of
wintergreen)
Answer?
Poison Trivia cont’d…
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Which is the most dangerous for a child to
swallow?
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1 prescription pill for diabetes
pencil lead
1 cigarette butt
Answer?
Poison Trivia cont’d…
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Which is the most dangerous for a child to
swallow?
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10 children’s Tylenol
1 Verapamil tablet
A gulp of hydrogen peroxide
Answer?
Prevention & Education
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Why do seniors need to know about poison
safety?
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To protect themselves.
 The most common poisons for Florida seniors
are medications, household poisons, and
organisms in food.
To protect their loved ones.
Causes of Medication Poisoning
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Interaction from multiple prescription drugs
Over-the-counter or herbal interactions
Taking another person’s drugs
Vision or reading difficulties
Causes of Medication Poisoning
cont’d…
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Sensitivity to drugs (allergies)
Poor liver and/or kidney function
No reminder system for taking medications
Self-adjusting drug dosages
Lack of Dosing Schedule
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60% of seniors on anti-hypertensives have no
system for remembering their doses.
Results:
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missed doses
doubled doses
erratic drug levels
side effects
Teaching Medication Safety
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Create a designated place for seniors to take
medications such as:
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well-lighted areas
child-proof caps and cabinets
check-off schedules
note pads and pens to record problems or side
effects
Poison Resources
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Who provides reliable information about
medications?
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Physicians
Pharmacists
The Poison Control Center
Causes of Household Poisonings
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Look-alikes
Storing non-food items next to food
Storing chemicals in drink bottles
Mixing cleaners
Causes of Household Poisonings
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Using cleaners without gloves or ventilation
Leaving poisons in easy to reach places
Child-resistant containers or latches not in use
Storing water in containers other than water
containers
Safe Product Storage
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Store in original container
Store in a secured location
Store poisons away from food
Use child resistant containers or cabinet
latches
Follow directions when using products
Rinse and dry when adding a second cleaner
Who To Call For Help?
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For non-emergencies, call the company’s tollfree number on the label.
For exposure to a product (fumes inhaled,
spilled on skin, sprayed in eyes, swallowed)
call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.
Causes of Food Poisoning
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Germs carried on dirty hands
Certain plants, fruits, seeds, and roots
Causes of Food Borne Illness
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Cross-contamination during food preparation
Improper cooking or storage of food
Eating spoiled food or contaminated meats and
fish
Food Safety
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Wash hands using lots of friction
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W—warm
A—and
S—soapy
H—happy birthday
Wash dishes and utensils after contact with
raw meat or eggs.
Sanitize food preparation surfaces monthly
with bleach water & let air-dry.
Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.
Types of Food Borne Illness
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Gastrointestinal symptoms
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Neurological symptoms
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Campylobacter, Salmonella, Staphylococcus,
Escherichia coli, Clostridium botulism
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps
botulism or fish poisonings
paralysis, tremors, paresthesias, dysphagia, and
headache
Flu-like symptoms
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Streptococcus, Listeria
fever, rash, sore throat, and headache
Food Borne Illness Resources
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For treatment advice, call the Poison Center
at 1-800-222-1222.
To report a restaurant or grocery store with bad
food, call your county health department.
For instructions about safe food preparation or
healthy cooking, call your county cooperative
extension program.
First Aid—Eyes
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For imbedded objects or glue stuck to eyes:
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do not remove, go to the emergency room.
For liquids, sprays, or splashes in the eye:
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rinse affected eye with saline or tap water for
15 minutes.
rest closed eye and apply cool compress for
15 minutes.
if still symptomatic, seek medical attention.
First Aid—Inhaled Poisons
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Call 9-1-1 for severe symptoms.
Separate the person from the poison.
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move him or her into fresh air.
if unable to move him or her, increase ventilation
and remove toxins from the area, if possible.
call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for
further instructions.
First Aid—Poisons On The Skin
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Separate the person from the poison.
While protecting yourself, remove the affected
clothing.
Rinse affected area with water.
Wash with soap and water if necessary.
Call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for
further instructions.
First Aid—Swallowed Poisons
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Brush solid particles off the mouth.
As possible, rinse the mouth to dilute
corrosives.
If the person is alert, offer sips of water.
If no respiratory difficulty or vomiting, continue
to offer sips of water.
Call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for
further instructions.
First Aid—Misconceptions
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Milk is the preferred antidote.
Butter should be applied to chemical
burns.
All victims must be made to vomit.
Stick your fingers in the back of person’s throat
to induce vomiting.
Mix up the universal antidote: burned toast,
tea, Maalox.
Walk the person and give him or her coffee.
Syrup of Ipecac
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Contraindications:
child less than1 year of age
– non-toxic product was ingested
– ingestion occurred more than 1 hour ago
– the ingested product was corrosive, an alcohol, or
hydrocarbon
– a rapid-acting poison was ingested
– the person is going to the hospital for treatment
 Call the Poison Center before use.
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The Poison Center Hotline—
1-800-222-1222
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Provides advice after poisoning occurs.
Answers question to help prevent poisonings.
Most poisonings can be managed at home with
help from the Poison Control Center.
It is a free and confidential service.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Additional Resources
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For food safety information, call:
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Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555
For poison information, go to these websites:
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Florida Poison Information Center in Jacksonville
Florida Poison Information Center in Tampa
American Association of Poison Control Centers