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Accidental Poisonings

6 Things You Need to Know Now

By Alexandria Powell

If you currently have syrup of ipecac in your home, you should dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet and then throwing away the container.

"This is a national number that will direct the caller to their nearest poison center," says Anna Travis, an outreach coordinator with the Wisconsin Poison Center. You should keep the hotline number posted by all phones in your home and programmed into your mobile phone.

If you even suspect that your child has gotten into something poisonous, call the poison center hotline right away. Bring the container of whatever substance was involved with you to the phone (the label may offer valuable information), and be ready to provide your child's age, weight, the time the incident occurred and how much of the substance was taken.

"Sometimes parents wait hours after an exposure to call, but the call to the poison center should be made immediately," Travis says. "[We will] calm fears, explain what to watch for or refer a patient for appropriate medical care. We are here to help – confidentially!"

Want to see more?

• Too Many Toxins: Keeping Poisons Away from Curious Hands
• Creating the Home Medical Kit: Have What You Need at Your Fingertips
• Protect Your Child Against Poisons: Hidden Hazards Lurk in Common Household Products
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!

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