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.