| Washington Hospital Seminar Focuses on Poison Prevention
Common Household Items Pose Serious Health Risks
Tri-City Voice, March 11, 2008
Common household items like prescribed
medicines and cleaning solutions have
the potential to hurt or even kill you
or your loved ones. These items can be
extremely dangerous if not used properly
or get into the wrong hands. But there
are steps you can take to prevent
accidental poisonings.
"It's important to read labels and keep
children away from medicines, cleaning
supplies, and other potentially
dangerous chemicals," says Dr. Thomas
Luck, an allergist and immunologist with
Washington Township Medical Group.
Dr. Luck will be sharing useful tips to
prevent poisonings at an upcoming
Washington Hospital Health & Wellness
seminar titled: "Poison Prevention
Awareness" on Tuesday, March 18, from 1
to 2:30 p.m., at the Conrad E. Anderson,
M.D., Auditorium at Washington West,
2500 Mowry Avenue, in Fremont. To
register for the seminar, call (800)
963-7070.
Dr. Luck will talk about some of the
common household dangers and ways you
can protect yourself and your family. He
will also explain what to do if there is
an accidental poisoning.
A poison is any substance that is
harmful to your body when eaten,
inhaled, or injected through the skin.
Almost any substance can be poisonous if
you take enough of it. Nearly 20,000
deaths occur in the U.S. each year from
unintentional poisonings, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Believe it or not, a large number of
poisonings come from commonly used
painkillers aspirin and acetaminophen,
according to Dr. Luck. They can be
poisonous when taken in large doses.
"Aspirin can be very toxic to the
central nervous system," he said. "It
can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness
and ringing in the ears."
Cough syrups are another widespread
source, especially among children. Small
children can drink enough to cause
alcohol poisoning.
"An adult dose of medication can be
particularly dangerous for small
children," Dr. Luck said. "Children can
also mistake pills for candy and eat
them."
Medications also pose a danger for
grownups. Adults can poison themselves
with their own medications by not taking
them properly.
Dr. Luck will also talk about other
common sources of poisoning, including
cleaning solutions, pesticides, lead,
mercury and carbon monoxide. Lead was in
the news recently after a number of toys
imported from China were found to
contain lead-based paints.
"Children put these toys in their mouths
and can absorb a significant amount of
lead," Dr. Luck said. "Lead is highly
toxic substance that can damage the
central nervous system."
He will talk about the health risks
associated with these substances and
steps you can take to prevent accidental
poisonings, including the following.
Read labels. Whether you are
dealing with medications, cleaning
supplies, or pesticides, always read the
label. Learn about the risks and follow
directions carefully, including the
expiration date. Safely dispose of all
outdated medications and chemicals.
Use the original containers.
Never put medications, cleaning
solutions or pesticides in different
containers. That way it can't be
mistaken for something else. Also, the
original warning label stays with the
product and children won’t confuse it
with candy, soda or juice.
Take precautions. When using
pesticides, cleaning solutions, and
other chemicals, wear protective
clothing and avoid breathing in the
fumes. Turn on a fan or open a window.
Never mix household products together.
Keep children safe. Keep
medicines, household cleaning supplies,
and pesticides away from children. Put
chemicals in a childproof cupboard or
closet and lock the medicine cabinet.
Never call medicine candy and turn on a
light when preparing doses for children
to make sure you are giving the correct
amount.
Post the poison hotline. If you
do have a poison emergency, call the
poison hotline at (800) 222-1222. Keep
the number posted where it can easily be
found.
To learn more about poison prevention,
register for the Poison Prevention
Awareness seminar by calling the
toll-free Health Connection line (800)
963-7070 or register online at
www.whhs.com. National Poison
Prevention Week (March 16 – 22) is a
week nationally designated to highlight
the dangers of poisonings and how to
prevent them. For more information,
visit
www.poisonprevention.org |
