March 17th through the 24th is National Poison Prevention Week — an important time to highlight the steps people take to avoid accidental poisonings. Every day household products like cleaning supplies or household plants can lead to poisoning when they’re used incorrectly or left unattended, but they can be prevented by taking precautions. Even after taking precautions, accidental poisonings can still happen. Be prepared by saving the Wisconsin Poison Center phone number in your cell’s contact list: 1-800-222-1222.
The very first Poison Control Center was established in 1953 in Chicago. The idea for such a center came from a secretary who worked for the American Academy of Pediatrics. She called local hospitals to ask about the reasons why children were hospitalized; what had they eaten, what did they drink? Then, she contacted large companies about what ingredients in their products might make kids sick; at that time, companies did not need to publicize the potentially harmful chemicals in their products. Next, she talked with a group of doctors who made recommendations on how to treat different types of poisonings. She complied these recommendations on note cards, and then when doctors had questions about how to treat people who had been poisoned by different chemicals, they would call her. Soon after this process began, the U.S. Surgeon General ordered copies of her index cards, which were distributed to health departments across the United States.
These centers were very successful at preventing poisonings and deaths from poisonings. In 1958, the American Association of Poison Control Centers (now America’s Poison Centers) was created to help provide standards for poison centers. By 1975, there were 28 poison control centers across the country. In 2002, the toll-free Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222, which connects people to their local poison center, was established. There are more than 55 poison centers across the United States today. Poison control centers not only respond to calls and questions about poisoning, but they also promote public awareness of poisoning prevention. To learn more about the history of poison centers, check out the America’s Poison Centers website.
There are several ways people can help prevent unintentional poisoning in their homes. Make sure that householder cleaners are stored and used correctly; check the instructions on the label for directions on how and where to use them. Bleach should never be mixed with any other cleaning products and should only be mixed with water. Cleaning substances and other potentially poisonous substances should be locked away and out of reach of kids or pets. Medications, prescription or over-the-counter, should also be kept out of reach of children and pets. Green County Public Health has medication lock boxes available for free to help prevent medication misuse or accidental poisoning. Call our department at (608) 328-9390 for more information or to schedule a time to pick up a lock box.
Before purchasing houseplants, ensure they are not dangerous for your pets. Additionally, every home should have a carbon monoxide detector, and the batteries should be checked often — try to check them every spring and every fall. Lastly, food poisoning is another form of accidental poisoning. If you’re cooking or baking, be sure to wash your hands well, clean your equipment and cooking surfaces, and cook and store your food at the correct temperatures. For more cooking safety tips, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
If you have any questions about potentially poisonous substances, or you suspect someone has been poisoned, don’t hesitate to contact the Wisconsin Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
— Bridget Zimmerman is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bzimmerman@greencountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
