what does poisonous mean? a poison is anything that a person breathes in, touches or tastes that...
TRANSCRIPT
What does “poisonous” mean?
• A poison is anything that a person breathes in, touches or tastes that might be harmful
• Almost any chemical can be a poison if there is enough in the body
“The Dose Makes The Poison”
What is a Poison Exposure?• Exposure simply means “to come in contact with”
• Anytime a person breathes in, touches or tastes something that might be harmful.
Ingestionswallowing substances
Inhalationbreathing in gases, vapors, dusts or mites
Direct contacton the skin, in the eyes
The effect of a poison exposure depends on:
• The substance• The amount• The length of time of the exposure• The type of exposure• The age, weight and health of
exposed person
On average the California Poison Control System receives 300,000 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.
Top 3 Reasons Children 1-3 Years Old were Hospitalized or Died from an Injury in California (2003)
*Source: California Department of Health Services, Epidemiology Prevention and Injury Control (EPIC) Branch.**Note: The total number of injury related hospitalizations and deaths in California during 2002 numbered at 5415.
Burns/Scalds16%
Poisonings24%
Falls60%
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
Children are at greatest risk
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 Do Most Poisonings Occur?
• When adults are distracted while using a product
• Around dinner time
Poison Control Centers get most of their calls between 4-10 p.m.
Most Common Things Kids Get Into
• Make-up/Personal Care Products• Cleaning Products• Medicines• Swallowing small objects• Plants
Personal Care Products• Oral Hygiene
• toothpaste with fluoride, mouthwash
• Perfumes/Colognes/Aftershave• Hair Care
chemical relaxers, hair spray
• Make-up• Nail Care
nail polish, nail polish remover
Household Cleaners• Packaged in attractive, colorful containers
• Liquids may look like juice or soda to children
• Some products can burn the skin, eyes, lips, tongue, mouth, throat and stomach:
toilet bowl cleanersoven cleaners, drain openersmildew removers, stain removers
IF THE PERSON HAS TAKEN ANY OF THESE
PRODUCTS, DO NOT MAKE THE PERSON VOMIT!
Mixing Cleaners is Dangerous
• Products with chlorine should NEVER be mixed with other cleanersLiquid bleachScouring powdersMildew cleaners
• Always rinse area thoroughly before using a second product
Medicines
• Analgesics
pain relievers like acetaminophen and aspirin• Improper dosage
adult medications = toxic to children• Foreign medications
not always regulated• Supplements
vitamins
Children and 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
Plants• If child bites a leaf of a plant, it often results
in minor uncomfortable symptomsburning pain in the mouthstomach upset
• Most indoor house plants are not dangerous
• Outdoor plants can be dangerous
Food Poisoning
• Common causes improper cookingimproper storage of foodspoor hygiene
• Common symptoms vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal painusually starts within few hours
The Poison Action Line
• Immediate free treatment advice over the phone• Calls from the public• Calls from hospitals and medical professionals• Calls from Emergency Medical Services
dispatchers• Police and Fire
• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week• Leading source of poison help and information
Poison Action 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!
The California Poison Control System
One organization with four call centers managed by the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy
UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento
SF General Hospital in San Francisco
Children’s Hospital of Central California in Fresno/Madera
UC San Diego Medical Center in San Diego
Public ServiceCalifornia Poison Action Line
FAST, PRIVATE, EXPERT, FREE
Interpreting service for over 100 languages
Line for the hearing and speech impaired
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
What Happens During a Call?
The Poison Control Center Staff will:
• Decide how serious the poisoning is
• Decide if it can be treated at home, or if you should go to the hospital
• Tell you what to do – step by step
When Should I Call? • Call when poisoning is suspected:
Minor symptoms No symptoms
• Call 911 if the following life-threatening symptoms occur: Seizures Unconsciousness Difficulty breathing
Dangers at Home
Improper storage of hazardous products
Leaving medicines in easy to reach places for children in bedrooms and living rooms
Cleaning products stored under kitchen and bathroom sinks, without safety locks
Keeping Safe
• 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 go to www.calpoison.org to learn toxic classification
Keeping Safe – Syrup of Ipecac
• Used for many years to make people vomit in some poisoning cases
• Poison Control Centers and the American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommend keeping or using Ipecac in the home
• If you have Ipecac, throw it out by wrapping it up and putting it in your trash safely, so that children and pets can’t get into it before it is picked up
Keeping Safe – Get rid of old medicines
• Do not keep old medicine in the house, throw it out, but..• Do not flush medicine down the toilet!• Throw it out by wrapping it up and placing it in your trash
so that children and pets can’t get into it before it is picked up
Always Be Prepared to Call The Poison Action Line
Don’t Guess. Be Sure. Keep the Poison Action Line number near every phone
If you suspect a poisoning, call the Poison Action Line first.