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MCC Daily Tribune

Poison Prevention Awareness Month

Poison Prevention Awareness Month takes place every March and it might be more important than you realize. Poisoning from the Mayo Clinic is defined as an injury or death due to swallowing, inhaling, touching, or injecting various drugs, chemicals, venoms, or gases. It sounds like a distant concept, but the fact of the matter is that most poisonings occur in the home. Smoke inhalation is the most common cause of acute poisonings. Inhalation of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and other toxic substances make it a silent killer.

 

HOW TO OBSERVE POISON PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH

  1. Learn your poisons

    It’s critical to change the mindset surrounding poisons. Learn what items in your house could be potentially toxic and how to best handle them. Everything from medicines to charcoal lighter and insect sprays can have devastating effects if they aren't handled properly.

  2. Child safety

    If you have children, or if they spend time at your house, make sure that they know about poison safety as well. Children can get into products with dangerous chemicals and it’s important that they are equipped with the proper information. Also, take preventative measures to ensure that your house is safe by child-locking cabinets that have chemicals and medicines.

  3. Pet safety

    We also need to look out for our pets. Since animals don’t have the ability to communicate with us, learn the poisoning symptoms that you need to look out for. Breathing irregularities and sickness, diarrhea, agitation, and heart issues are all possible signs that could require intervention. You know your pets better than anyone, and if you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to call Animal Poison Control (APC) at (888) 426-4435.

 

FIVE FACTS ABOUT POISON PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH

  1. Deaths per day

    87 people die every day from unintentional poisoning.

  2. Everything is poisonous

    Almost anything can be poisonous if too much of it is ingested.

  3. The victims

    Children are the major victims of poisoning

  4. Teen danger

    Teens have a high risk of death when using household products to get "high".

 

WHY POISON PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH IS IMPORTANT

  1. It’s easy to forget

    When we use our household items, the last thing on our minds is that they could be potentially dangerous. Poison Prevention Awareness Month draws attention to the fact that this carelessness could have disastrous repercussions.

  2. Children

    It’s one thing for adults to be forgetful, but the most at-risk people are children. This month forces us to think more broadly and to take preventative measures to make sure our children are safe.

  3. New information

    Medical science is constantly learning more about poisons and the best way to prevent them. It’s the perfect time to brush up not only on the standard facts, but to identify any new information that has been discovered to better guard against poisonings.

Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
03/09/2022