Smart Parents, Safe Kids Poison Prevention

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What is Poisoning?Primary Causes

Role of Poison Control CenterSafety Tips

Safe Kids Research:

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What’s the Problem?

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• Only 4 percent of parents expressed concern about poisoning, which is surprising, given that Poison Control Centers answer more than one million calls a year about children 5 and under who have gotten into medicine or other dangerous products.

• We learned that 3 in 10 parents with a toddler keep medicines and cleaning products on a low shelf or in an unlocked cabinet.

• In a separate study, Safe Kids found that more grandparents identified electrical outlets as a top safety issue than medicine, but 36 times more children go to the emergency department for medicine poisoning.

What Do Parents Think?

The California Poison Control System (CPCS)

Provides immediate, free and expert

treatment advice and referral over the

telephone in case of exposure to

poisonous or toxic substances

• Immediate free treatment advice over the phone–Calls from the public–Calls from hospitals & medical professionals–Calls from Emergency Medical Services dispatchers

–Police and Fire

• Available 24/7

• Interpreting service for over 100 languages

Who Answers the phone?

• Clinical Pharmacists

• Physicians

• Registered Nurses

• Poison Information Providers

Questions asked by Poison Control Center staff

• Name of substance and label ingredients

• Amount involved

• When exposure occurred

• Any symptoms or reactions

• Age and weight of person exposed

• Phone number for follow-up call

Here’s what happens when you call

When Should I Call? Call when poisoning is suspected:Minor symptomsNo symptoms–Our medical staff can give you

treatment advice or answer questions on any poisoning topic

Call 911 if the following life-threateningsymptoms occur: • Seizures • Unconsciousness • Difficulty breathing

Poison Help Line• Public service of the California Poison Control

System

• Toll-Free phone number in California

• Parents receive immediate treatment advice from a poison expert

• Parents are encouraged to call for poison emergencies and for questions during uncertain situations

Don’t Guess. Be Sure. Call anytime you are not sure!

On average the California Poison Control System receives 330,000 calls per year

• 51% occurred in children under 6 years.

• 94% occurred in the home.

• 78% were managed at home over the phone with

help from one of our experts

• 25% are information calls

*Source: California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, Inpatient Discharge Data 2012

Non-Fatal Hospitalizations from Unintentional Injuries in Children 0-5:

California

0-5 year-olds:

•Develop new abilities every day (grasping, grabbing, reaching, climbing)

•Put things in their mouth

•Don’t always learn from experience

•Imitate adults

•Taste and smell not fully developed

From a Child’s Point of View

• Standing at about 2 feet

high or less

• Exploring their

environment

• Curious to touch and taste

items they can reach in

the:

Kitchen

Bathroom

Bedroom

Living Room

• When adults are distracted

while using a product

• Around dinner time–

Poison Control Centers

get most of their calls

between 4-10 pm

Hair Color, Window Spray,Vitamins - Dangerous?

Mixing Cleaners is Dangerous!

Medicines

• Medicines are the leading cause of serious and sometimes fatal poison ingestions

• Medicines and vitamins often look like candy to children

• Children like to imitate adults when they see them taking medicines

• Adults mistakenly call medicine “candy” to get children to take real medicine

Medicines

Children and Medicines

How effective is child-resistant packaging?

Child-resistant Packaging

Right click to view video.

Poisonous Plants

Nicotiana Pothos

Oleander Heliotrope

Foxglove

Poison Oak

Jimson Weed Azalea

Poisonous Plants

Dieffenbachia AgapanthusPeace Lily

Castor Bean

Daffodil

Delphinium

Angel’s TrumpetCalla Lily

Food Poisoning

Common causes –improper cooking –improper storage of foods –poor hygieneCommon symptoms –vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain –usually starts within few hours

Insect Bites/Pests

• Use bug spray or lotion with DEET

• Don’t leave food, drink and garbage out

• Avoid perfumes and colognes

• If allergic, ask your doctor what to do in case of emergency

What’s the best way to

prevent insect bites that can

be poisonous?

Snakes

Snakes live everywhere in California

Most are not poisonous, but the rattlesnake is. •How do you prevent snakebites:

•Always wear shoes and stay on paths when hiking

•Stay away from piles of rocks and wood

•If you see snakes, keep a safe distance

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless odorless gas undetectable to the human

senses

• Malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances

• Symptoms range from headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness to confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination and loss of consciousness

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be of slow or swift onset depending on the circumstances-but it is deadly!

Get rid of old Medicines Safely

• Do not keep old medicine

in the house, throw it out,

but...

• Do not flush medicine

down the toilet!

• Throw it out by dissolving

it into water and pouring it

into coffee grounds, cat

litter or sand Right click to view video.

Laundry Detergent Pods

• AAPCC has reported 25,653

cases since 2012

• 1/3 involved kids under 3

• 80% involved children

swallowing the pods

• 700 kids required

hospitalization

• 1 fatality

• Eye injuries, coma and seizures

Right click to view video

Button Battery Dangers

Right click to view video.

Liquid Nicotine for E-Cigarettes

• Liquid nicotine for sale by the

vial, gallon or barrel

• Tiny amounts can cause

vomiting and seizures

• Not regulated by the FDA

• Foreign retailers sell

unregulated concentrations of

purity and nicotine

• Increase in calls to PCC by

300% from 2012

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Top Safety Tips

* Keep medicines, personal care, and cleaning products out of children’s reach and in locked in cabinets

* Keep products in their original containers

* When distracted while using products, do not leave children alone with product container nearby

* Know the names of your plants and don’t guess.

Always Be Prepared to Call The Poison Help Line

Don’t Guess. Be Sure.

Keep the Poison Help Line number near every phoneIf you suspect a poisoning, call the Poison Help Line first.

Right click to view video.

www.pillsvscandy.com

Can you tell the difference between pills and candy?

Download the app by searching ‘Choose your Poison; in iTunes or

Google Play

• Text “TIPS” or “AVISOS” to 69866

• DOWNLOAD the Pills vs. CandyGame App for iPhonesand Android by SEARCHING “Choose your Poison”

Home and Safety Text Messages to your Cell Phone

• Text “SURVEYS” or “ENCUESTAS” to 69866

• Respond “YES/NO” if you are a CHW/Health Provider

• Take the Survey!

Surveys via Text Message*

*This only works with smartphones

Health Education Materials

www.calpoison.org

www.thesafetyofyourfamily.com www.laseguridaddesufamilia.com

Pesticide Safety

QUESTIONS?

www.calpoison.org

Katie SmithSafe Kids California916-244-1964ksmith@thecapcenter.orgwww.safekidscalifornia.orgwww.facebook.com/safekidscalifornia