National Poison Prevention Week is March 15-21, 2020 and the purpose is to raise awareness of poison prevention nationwide every year. The week is an opportunity to highlight the dangers of poisonings for people of all ages and promote community involvement in poisoning prevention.
In an emergency:
If you or someone you know may have been poisoned, call the toll-free Poison Help line right away at 1-800-222-1222 which connects you to your local poison center.
If the person is not breathing, call 911. Do not wait for signs of a poisoning before calling the Poison Help line. When you call, you will speak with a poison expert at your poison center.
Remember:
Do not panic. Not all medicines, chemicals, or household products are poisonous. Not all contact with poison results in poisoning.
Follow the advice you receive from your poison center.
First steps in an emergency:
- If the person inhaled poison, get to fresh air right away.
- If the person has poison on the skin, take off any clothing the poison touched. Rinse skin with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
- If the person has poison in the eyes, rinse eyes with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
A few household Tips:
- Explain that some poisons, such as carbon monoxide, cannot be seen or smelled – but they are still dangerous.
- Keep all products in their original containers.
- Do not use food containers (such as cups or bottles) to store household cleaners and other chemicals or products.
