Northern New England Poison Center (NNEPC)Center (NNEPC)

Poisons in your homePoisons in your home

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Mission

Prevent poisonings Minimize the effects of poisonings Minimize the effects of poisonings

that have occurred Reduce health care costs Reduce health care costs

Call Center Staffing

Specialists in Poison Information (SPI) Registered d h i t h t ti lnurses and pharmacists who must pass a national

ertification examPoison Information Providers (PIP) Individuals withPoison Information Providers (PIP) Individuals with emergency medical training, psychology, science and other elevant backgrounds.

Di t Cli i l T i l i id iDirectors – Clinical Toxicologists provide assistanceEducators – educational programs

Types of calls

Human and animal Poison emergencies/exposures Poison-related

questions/information Medication Verification Medication Verification Health care professional treatment

consultationconsultation

Poison Categories Unintentional (childhood and adult) Intentional (suicide or substance abuse)( ) Senior/medication safety Environmental/Occupation/Chemical o e ta /Occupat o /C e ca Emergency Preparedness Therapeutic errors Therapeutic errors

Poisoning Epidemiology

As of 2004 – 2nd leading cause of unintentional i j d hinjury deaths

From 1999-2004 Drug-related poisoning death rates increased 210%

in Maine Other substance poisoning death rates increased Other substance poisoning death rates increased

1.3%

Largest increase occurred in rural statesg

US Poisoning Exposures

Over 4 million calls/year (2.5 million are actual exposures)p )

One call every 13 seconds > 50% of calls for those under 6 years > 50% of calls for those under 6 years of age3 t f 4 ll t t d i ht h 3 out of 4 calls are treated right where they happen (usually in the home with h d i f P i C tphone advice from Poison Center

experts)

ME Poisoning Statistics

65,000+ poisonings/year9 00 i d i & i f i 49,500+ poison education & information

calls/year7 100 f i i th l 7,100 of poisonings among those less than 6 years old72% cases are managed at home 72% cases are managed at home

24% cases are managed at health care facilityfacility

What is a poison?oison is any product or substance that can harm someone if it is used in the wrong way,he wrong person, or in the wrong amount.entially poisonous items could include some household products, chemicals at work orhe environment drugs (prescription over-the-counter herbal illegal or animal medicines)he environment, drugs (prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, illegal or animal medicines), ke bites, spider bites, and scorpion stings.sons can enter the body through the eyes/ears, on or through the skin, by breathing them,y swallowing something you shouldn’t.

hat should I do if I think someone’s been poisoned?ow the first aid instructions if you can. Then call your poison center right away! poison center experts will tell you exactly what to do. They will frequently follow-up with you by phone

that everything is all right.NOT wait to call! If you call right away, the problem can often be taken care of over the phone.n't wait for symptoms!

What are some common poisons?Poisonous products that may be found in and around the home:

•MEDICINES •WINDSHIELD WASHER

CLEANING PRODUCTS FURNITURE POLISH•CLEANING PRODUCTS FURNITURE POLISH

•LAUNDRY PRODUCTS •NAIL POLISH REMOVER AND PRIMER

•BATTERIES •BUG AND WEED KILLERS

•CIGARETTES •ALCOHOL CIGARETTES ALCOHOL

•MOUTHWASH •PLANTS (INDOOR AND OUTDOOR)

• LIGHTER FLUIDS

CO2 P i iCO2 P i iC b id i i i l th l d it t k l b i Th

CO2 PoisoningCO2 PoisoningCarbon monoxide poisoning is lethal and it takes people by surprise. Three things are important to prevent fatal carbon monoxide poisoning: prevention; detection; and rapid, appropriate treatment.

Take simple steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

1. Have your furnace inspected and adjusted before every heating season.2. Have your chimney, fireplace, and wood stoves, and flues inspected before2. Have your chimney, fireplace, and wood stoves, and flues inspected before every heating season.3. Have chimneys and flues repaired as needed.4. Ventilate the room every time you use a kerosene space heater.5. Do not use charcoal grills indoors for cooking or heating.5 o o u a oa g doo o oo g o a g6. Do not use your oven for heating your home.7. Do not leave your car’s engine running in an enclosed or attached garage.8. Install a CO2 detector in your home

Poisonous PlantsAloe Vera, Burn plantAmaryllis sp. AmaryllisAnthurium andraeanum Flamingo lilyCaladium hortulanum Angels' wingsChrysanthemum indicum Chrysanthemums MumsChrysanthemum indicum Chrysanthemums, MumsClivia miniata Kaffir LilyCodiaeum variegatum CrotonCyclamen persicum CyclamenDatura innoxia Angel's Trumpet

ff b h bDieffenbachia sp. Dumb caneEuphorbia milii Crown-of-thornsEuphorbia pulcherrima Poinsettia (yes, it belongs here)Hedera helix English IvyHydrangea macrophylla HydrangeaHydrangea macrophylla HydrangeaKalanchoe daigremontiana Devil's BackboneMonstera deliciosa Ceriman, Swiss-cheese plant Philodendron sp. Heart leaf philodendron, PhilodendronRhododendron sp. AzaleaSolanum pseudocapsicum Jerusalem CherrySolanum pseudocapsicum Jerusalem Cherry

Most Common Poisons

t are the most common poisons for children?t are the most common poisons for children?etics such as perfume or nail polish, and personal care products such as deodorant and soap.ning products (for example laundry detergent and floor cleaners)ning products (for example, laundry detergent and floor cleaners). medicines (analgesics) such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.gn bodies and toys including silica gel packages to remove moisture in packaging and glow ts. al preparations such as diaper rash products, hydrogen peroxide, acne preparations, or calamine

t are the most common poisons for adultst are the most common poisons for adults?medicines (analgesics) which can be over the counter prescribed or illegal Examples includemedicines (analgesics) which can be over-the-counter, prescribed, or illegal. Examples include oxycodone, acetaminophen, methadone, and ibuprofen.tives (drugs to reduce anxiety), hypnotics (sleeping pills), and antipsychotics (drugs used to treat illness).

ehold cleaning productsepressants (drugs to treat depression)ovascular drugs (drugs to treat heart disease)ols

Remember the BEFORE, WHILE andAFTER Rule

EFORE EFORE using a cleaning product, read the instructions on the bottle.

HILE using a cleaning product, never leave it alone. A child may find it.

FTER using a product, put it back in a locked cabinet. ke sure the container is closed tightly.

you are asked to give medicine to a child, follow the instructions on e bottle. After using the medicine, return the bottle to a safe storage ce right away. Never leave a child alone with the medicine.

To contact the NNEPC:

www.nnepc.org – sign up for newsletters, educational materialsnewsletters, educational materials available, past newsletters

1-800-222-1222 1-800-222-1222 Maine educator: Rebecca Miller at 662-

7224 or miller@mmc org7224 or miller@mmc.org