For Patients and Families

• A child eats a bottle of children's vitamins thinking they are candy.
• A parent inadvertently sprays pesticides on a child playing near the garden.
• A senior citizen confuses medications and gives the wrong one to himself or his grandchild.

• Toothpaste with fluoride
• Lotions
• Make-up
• Perfume
• beach
• Laundry detergent
• Household cleaners
• Cosmetics
• Thermometers
• Plants
• Over-the-counter pain and cold relievers
• Pen ink*
• Crayons*
• Diaper products*

*usually non-toxic and not a health risk

Michele Burns Ewald, MD, Medical Director, Regional Center for Poison Control

• Keep all hazardous materials in locked cabinets.
• Put safety latches on drawers and cabinets containing harmful household products.
• Store all household and medicinal products in their original containers so they are correctly labeled.
• Buy products in child-resistant packaging whenever available.
• Read all medication labels carefully.
• Never refer to medication as candy. Children may get confused, since many medications and candies can look the same.
• Teach your children to always ask an adult before eating or drinking anything.
• Store food and cleaners in separate cabinets or rooms.
• Place carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
• Watch children carefully whenever they are playing indoors or outdoors.
• Post the Center for Poison Control and Prevention phone number, 1-800-222-1222, near all telephones in your home.

Poison center experts can answer questions about medications, household products, workplace chemicals, mold and mildew, snake or spider bites, and other poisoning-related topics. You can also call to request magnets or stickers that have the 800 phone number on them. No question or incident is too insignificant to call about.

If necessary, the Poison Center experts will refer you to appropriate health care providers or to an emergency room.

(Note: If the person has stopped breathing or collapsed, call 911 immediately.)

• If a child gets poison in his eyes, immediately rinse eyes with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
• If a child gets poison on his skin, take off any clothing that came in contact with the poison and rinse the skin with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
• If a child inhales potentially poisonous fumes, get him to fresh air immediately.
• If a child takes the wrong medicine or too much medicine, immediately call (800)-222-1222.
• If a child swallows something that is not food or medicine, have him drink a small amount of milk or water and immediately call (800)-222-1222.

Children's Hospital Boston©, 2005. This page may be reproduced for educational purposes. Reprint permission is required for all other uses.