In 2015, America’s 55 poison control centers received 1,319,044 calls after a child got into a potential poison. That’s over 3,600 calls a day – 150 every hour. These prevention tips can help you or your loved ones avoid poisonings. Put the poison help number, 1-800-222-1222 on or near every telephone and save it on your mobile phone. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What To Do If A Poisoning Occurs

- Remain calm
- Call 9-1-1 if you have a poison emergency and the victim has collapsed or is not breathing. If the victim is awake and alert, dial 1-800-222-1222. Try to have this information ready:

• The victim’s age and weight
• The container or bottle of the poison (if available)
• The time of the poison exposure
• The address where the poisoning occurred

- Stay on the phone and follow the instructions from the emergency operator or poison control center.

Drugs and Medicines

- Only take prescription medications that are prescribed to you by a healthcare professional. Misusing or abusing prescription or over-the-counter medications is not a safe alternative to illicit substance abuse.
- Never take larger or more frequent doses of your medications, particularly prescription pain medications, to try to get faster or more powerful effects.
- Never share or sell your prescription drugs. Keep all prescription medicines (especially prescription painkillers, such as those containing methadone, hydrocodone, or oxycodone), over-the-counter medicines (including pain or fever relievers and cough and cold medicines), vitamins and herbals in a safe place that can be reached only by people who take or give them.
- Follow directions on the label when you give or take medicines. Read all warning labels. Some medicines cannot be taken safely when you take other medicines or drink alcohol.
- Turn on a light when you give or take medicines at night so you know you have the correct amount of the right medicine.
- Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers.
- Properly dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs. The Town of Morrisville Police Department offers a medication drop-off for safe disposal at 260-C Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560. This location is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Household Chemicals

- Always read the label before using a product that may be poisonous.
- Keep chemical products in their original bottles or containers. Do not use food containers such as cups, bottles, or jars to store chemical products such as cleaning products or beauty products.
- Never mix household products together. For example, mixing bleach and ammonia can result in toxic gases.
- Wear protective clothing (gloves, long sleeves, long pants, socks, shoes) if you spray pesticides or other chemicals.
- Turn on the fan and open windows when using chemical products such as household cleaners.

Keep Young Children Safe From Poisoning

- Store all medicines and household products up and away and out of sight in a cabinet where a child cannot reach them.
- When taking or giving medicines or using household products:

• Do not put your next dose on the counter or table where children can reach them – it only takes seconds for a child to get them.
• If you have to do something else while taking medicine, such as answer the phone, take any young children with you.
• Secure the child safety cap completely every time you use a medicine.
• After using them do not leave medicines or household products out. As soon as you are done with them, put them away in a cabinet where a child cannot reach them.
• Be aware of any legal or illegal drugs that guests may bring into your home. Ask guests to store drugs where children cannot find them. Children can easily get into pillboxes, purses, backpacks, or coat pockets.

Other Tips

- Do not call medicine “candy.”
- Identify poisonous plants in your house and yard and place them out of reach of children or remove them.

Other Resources

Safe Kids
American Association of Poison Control Centers
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Capital Poison Center