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National Poison Prevention Week is observed annually during the third full week in March. The week is dedicated to raising awareness to poison control centers and the national Poison Help Hotline (1-800-222-1222). A poisoning is when someone is exposed to something in the wrong way or the wrong amount. When someone suspects a poisoning, they might rush to an emergency room or call 9-1-1. Others might turn to the internet for answers. But there is a different resource that can help: the Poison Help Hotline. Millions of poisonings happen every year. Alarmingly, someone calls a U.S. poison center about every 15 seconds. But poisoning is preventable.
As a new mother, I called the Poison Control Center. When my first child was about 8 months old, I suspected
she ingested some rat poison. While exploring outdoors, she, of course, was putting everything in her mouth.
I noticed a blue pellet in her mouth. I traced our route and found some animal control bait that had been laid
out by our pest control provider. After a moment of panic, I called the national hotline number and got immediate
attention and advice.
Children are curious and put all sorts of things in their mouths. Even if you turn your back for a moment, they can quickly get into things that could hurt them. When seconds count, calling a poison center is faster and more accurate than an internet search. Calls are answered by nurses, pharmacists, and doctors. Astonishingly, according to America’s Poison Centers, callers can be helped in more than 150 languages!
Although many might associate the poison hotline with children who accidentally ingest a substance, the hotline is also fielding calls affecting adults. Shockingly, more than 60% of all poison fatalities occur in adults aged 20 to 49.
Unfortunately, 3,809 poison-related deaths were reported in 2021. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 260 people die from alcohol overdose every day. These numbers serve as an important reminder that while poison exposures and accidents do occur, they can also be prevented with education and awareness.
HOME SAFETY TIPS
On average, 90% of poisonings happen in American homes each year, and more than 70% of people who call Poison Help get the help they need right away, right where they are — saving the cost of a trip to a doctor or hospital. Vogt Engineering encourages you to save the Hotline number (1-800-222-1222) in your phone to easily contact them if you have questions or suspect a poisoning.