APRIL 2017
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Preventing Poisonings in Alaska
Every year, about 6,000 calls are answered by the free Alaska
Poison Center for poisoning emergencies. Some common experiences leading to
these calls include children taking items from their mothers’ purses, such as
perfumes that contain alcohol; children ingesting household cleaners or exotic
plants; and adults and children taking medications that don’t belong to them,
or in the wrong doses.
In 2015, 51% of Alaska’s poison cases involved children ages
five and younger, followed by adults making up 36% of poison cases. Youth (ages
6 to 19) and adults had the most serious poison cases, in which hospital
admission was necessary.[1]
The substance categories most frequently involved in human exposures reported to the Alaska Poison Center, 2015: analgesics (30%), household cleaning substances (20%), cosmetics/personal care products (17%), sedatives/hypnotics/antipsychotics, antidepressants, and alcohol (all 11%).
There are several
risk factors associated with unintentional poisoning:
-
Lack of
supervision — Children left alone, even for a few moments, are at greatest
risk of poisoning. [2]
-
Improper
storage — Potential poisons that are left within reach of children increase
their risk of poisoning. Household products and medicines that are stored in child-resistant
packaging are not child proof. Children may be able to open these containers. [2]
-
Children’s
curious nature — Children are curious and they like to explore. Sometimes
they taste and inhale unsafe products, or get unsafe products on their skin or
in their eyes.
-
Children’s
desire to mimic adult behavior — Children often copy the behavior of
adults. For example, children might take a medicine because they saw an adult
take it.
-
Failure
to read and follow directions — Make sure to read the instructions on
proper use of medication.
-
Food
poisoning — Keep meats and eggs away from other foods prior to preparation.
Cook foods at the proper temperatures and store leftovers within two hours of
being prepared at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
-
Working carbon
monoxide (CO) alarm — Install working CO detectors near every sleeping area
in your home.
-
Herbal
and drug interactions — Research the medicines and herbs you are taking and
talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if there may be interactions.
Injuries can be prevented: Medication poisoning is one of
the top reasons for calling the free Poison Center Hotline.[3] Below are some
tips to prevent medication poisonings:
-
Never take medicine that belongs to someone
else, even if you have the same symptoms.
-
Store properly sealed medicine and vitamins in
locked cabinets out of the reach of children and adolescents.
-
Keep medicine and vitamins in the original
container.
-
Get rid of expired or leftover medicines and
those with missing labels. Follow federal guidelines for how to do this (FDA
2011). Participate in a local drug take-back event.
-
Monitor the use of medicines prescribed for
children and teenagers.
-
Always read labels before taking or giving
medicine. Check the name, expiration date and directions.
-
Ask the doctor or pharmacist about any food or
drinks that might react with the medicine.
-
Tell the doctor about any medications, including
vitamins, that you are taking.
-
After each dose, record the time, date and name
of drug that was taken or given.
-
If you forget to take or give medicine at the
correct time, do not double dose without checking with your doctor first.
-
Do not take or give medicine in the dark,
without your glasses on, or while you are sleepy.
-
Never call medicine “candy.”
-
Never give or take extra medicine if some is
spilled. Call your doctor or pharmacist first.
-
Use a correct measuring spoon. Do not use a
kitchen spoon. Know the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon.
-
If you are taking more than one medication, make
a list of all your medications and include the name of the drug, the reason you
are taking it, the amount you are taking, the times of day you are taking it
and the name and phone number of the doctor who prescribed it.
-
If you suspect any medication errors or have any
questions, call the free Poison Center Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
If you think someone has been poisoned, stay calm. Next,
call your local Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 or your doctor.
The Alaska Poison Center provides 24/7 help whenever you
face a poison emergency. Have the poison hotline available at home and on the
go. Request free stickers and magnets by visiting the Alaska Poison Control website. Smartphone users can text “poison” to 797979 to
have the free poison help hotline instantly programed into your “contacts” on
your phone. Go to Text. Save. Share. for more information (see image below).
In honor of National Poison Prevention Week: Text. Save. Share. (A vCard is a digital business card that can be downloaded directly to your cellphone’s contact files).
References:
-
Oregon Poison Center Toxicall®
Database (Alaska Data, 2015)
-
BioMed Central
Ltd. Risk factors for unintentional poisoning in children aged 1-3 years in NSW
Australia: a case-control study 2013
-
American
Association of Poison Control Centers’ Poison Center Data Snapshot. 2015
|