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Poison Prevention Fact Sheet

Poison Prevention

Persons of all ages are susceptible to one form of poisoning or another at different stages of their lives. Millions of people are unintentionally poisoned every year. A poison is any substance that can cause an unintended symptom. Poisons can come in four different forms:

• Solids- medicine, plants, powders, granular pesticides and fertilizers.
  
• Liquids- lotion, liquid laundry soap, furniture polish, lighter fluid and syrup medicines. Large quantities can be swallowed in a short period of time and they are absorbed rapidly.
  
• Sprays- insecticides, spray paint and some cleaning products. Aerosol sprays may be flammable, explode and can cause damage to the heart and lungs if inhaled.
  
• Gases - Gases or vapors. Carbon monoxide from hot water heaters and furnaces, exhaust fumes from automobiles, fumes from gas or oil burning stoves, and industrial pollution in the air.
  

Young children tend to be at a greater risk than adults for poisoning because their bodies are smaller and they are easily affected by small amounts of chemicals and because they tend to put everything in their mouths. About 94% of all childhood poisonings occur in the home. The most common cause of unintentional poisoning to children is drugs. Many home poisonings also involve cosmetics, personal care products, and cleaning products.

Adolescents tend to be victims of poisoning in the form of inhalant abuse leading to death and other severe consequences. Inhalant abuse is the deliberate inhalation or sniffing of common products found in homes and schools to obtain a "high." Visit

Older adults suffer from poisonings that tend to occur as a result of taking the wrong medication or improper amounts. Older adults are also adversely effected by the interactions of multiple medications.

If you think someone has been poisoned, call the Poison Control Center before doing anything! Don't wait for the person to look or feel sick.
New nationwide number: 1-800-222-1222

Virginia Poisoning Statistics 2003

• There were 617 deaths related to poisonings in Virginia in 2003, making it the third leading cause of injury death. The poisoning death rate in Virginia was 8.35 per 100,000
  
• Forty percent of poisoning deaths were related to accidental poisoning via narcotics and psychodysleptics (hallucinogens).
  
• Poisoning accounted for about 18% of both unintentional injury-related deaths and suicide deaths.
  
• There were 144 suicide poisoning deaths.
  
• Males were about 2 times more likely to suffer a poisoning related death than were females.
  
• There were 4,833 hospitalizations due to poisoning injuries in 2003 for a rate of 65 per 100,000 - making it the second leading cause of injury-related hospitalization.
  
• The median cost per episode of care was $5,221 with an average length of stay of 2.5 days.
  
• More than 40 million dollars were billed as a result of these hospitalizations. About half of the cases had a private payer as the expected source of payment and about a third listed the government as the payer source.
  
• With regard to accidental poisonings, about 10% were due to benzodiazipenes tranquilizers, and another 10% were from opiates.
  
• Poisonings classified as suicide-related, about 37% were related to a psychotropic agent and 29% were analgesics.

Poisoning Prevention Tips

• Lock poisonous products and medicines out of the reach/sight of children.
  
• Store poisonous products in their original labeled containers.
• Use child-resistant packaging to help prevent poisonings with medicines and household chemicals.
  
• Store household products in a different place from food and medicine..
  
• Destroy old medications by pouring contents down drain or toilet, and rinse container before discarding. Do not put container with its contents into trash.
  
• While using a poisonous product, never leave it unattended. A child may find it.
  
• After using a poisonous product, put it back in a locked cabinet.
  
• Never call medicine "candy". Children may eat medicine thinking that it is candy.
  
• Keep house plants out of children's reach. Even if the plants are not poisonous, they might cause choking.
  
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that syrup of ipecac no longer be the routine poison treatment in the home. Call the Poison Control Center before doing anything.
• Always turn the light on when giving or taking medicine to be sure you have the right medicine and the correct measure or count of the dosage.
  
• If you have any questions about the intended use of your medicine, contact your doctor.
  
• Some medicines are dangerous when mixed with alcohol. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.
  
• Be aware of potential drug interactions. Some medicines interact dangerously with food or other medicines. Your doctor should be made aware of all medicines, prescription or over-the-counter, you are currently taking. Talk to your doctor before taking any natural or herbal supplements.
  
• Never share prescription medicines. Medicines should be taken by the person prescribed and for the reason prescribed.

Poisoning Resources:

• Virginia Poison Center 2005 Annual Report
  
• 2003 Report on National Poison Prevention Week
• Preventing Poisonings in the Home flyer
• National Capitol Poison Center (Northern Virginia) -- http://www.poison.org
  
• Blue Ridge Poison Center -- http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/brpc/
  
• Virginia Poison Center -- http://www.vcu.edu/mcved/vpc/index.htm
  
• For free brochures, posters, downloadable information visit http://www.poisonprevention.org