January is the deadliest month for carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings. Although they can happen year-round, CO poisonings occur more often during the winter months, as colder temperatures cause people to use furnaces and other heaters.
Holiday Plants
As you begin to deck the halls this holiday season, you may find yourself reaching for a plant or two to help spruce up your space. Let’s look at some of the most common plants that pop up around the holiday season and whether they are safe decorating choices.
The Importance of a Medicine Tracker
Taking at least one medicine is a routine part of many people’s day. In fact, some people might even take many medicines every day. It is a good idea to keep an up-to-date list of all of the medicines you take.
Will Kids Really Eat That?
Children learn about their environment by exploring. They look, touch, and taste. Sometimes, the things they taste are a real head scratcher, but are they actually harmful?
What You Should Know About Button Batteries
Button batteries are tiny, but dangerous. They are found in toys, remote controls, hearing aids, watches, musical greeting cards, calculators, and other electronic devices. Many button batteries are smaller than a quarter. Because of their small size, a button battery can be easily swallowed by a child without a parent realizing.
Safe Medicine Disposal
Keeping unused or expired medicines in your home is dangerous. If your doctor tells you to stop taking a medicine, promptly dispose of it to help prevent a medicine error. Make it a habit to regularly dispose of unused and expired medicines.
Fall Poison Safety
Each season comes with different poison hazards that we need to keep in mind. Although we are still coping with COVID-19, poisonings continue to happen. Below, we share some tips to help you stay poison safe during the fall season.
Poison Emergency Preparedness
September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Let’s look at some steps that families can take to make sure they are prepared for a poison emergency. Remember, if the person is not breathing, is unconscious, or having seizures, call 911 right away. If not, call 1-800-222-1222 to talk to a poison specialist who is ready to answer your call.
Meet Our Experts: Nick
One of the goals of our eAntidote blog is to introduce you to the real poison experts who answer the phones at the Maryland Poison Center (MPC), as well as our staff members. Read this Q&A to get to know our toxicology fellow: Nick Husak.
Stop, Ask First!
Children under the age of six accounted for 36% of cases at the Maryland Poison Center (MPC) in 2019. One common reason for unintentional exposures in children is that they are not able to tell the difference between products that look alike. Teach young children to “Stop, Ask First” before touching, tasting, or smelling something.