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 Your
house could be a dangerous place if you’re not careful. There are more
than two million episodes of poisonings annually in this country, and 92
percent of them occur at home. Young children are the most likely victims
of household poisonings. To help protect your family from the dangers of
poisoning, it’s important to know which household substances are most
likely to cause poisoning, and how you can prevent it from happening.
Causes of household
poisoning
Common household items that often cause
poisoning include cleaning substances, laundry detergents, pain relievers,
cosmetics, personal care, automotive and gardening products, cigarette
butts, plants, and cough and cold medications. For a small child, even one
adult-strength pain pill or a single adult medicine can be deadly. For an
extensive and often surprising list of toxic products, search the A.D.A.
M. Medical Encyclopedia Poisons Reference.
Prevention
To help prevent poisonings in your home,
follow these simple, but important, guidelines:
- Check all
rooms in the house for poisons, even the bedroom and living room.
- Store medication
and household products in their original packaging, out of the reach
of children. Very dangerous substances should be kept in a locked
cabinet.
- Buy medicine and
household products in child-resistant packages, and keep caps on
tight.
- Never put inedible
products in food or drink containers.
- Make a distinction
between medicines and other products when talking to your children.
Don’t call medicines cute names to encourage your child to take
them.
- If you keep
medication in your purse, store it out of your child’s reach.
- Discard old
medicines and toxic products.
Symptoms
Symptoms of poisoning can vary, depending
on the product. Some common symptoms are slowed breathing, rapid eye
movements, rapid heartbeat and drowsiness. These and other symptoms may
not appear for up to 12 hours after ingesting the poisonous material.
Treatment
"If you suspect someone has been
poisoned, call 911 or your local poison control center
immediately," says Edward J. Otten, M.D., emergency medicine
physician, professor and medical director of the division of toxicology
at The University Hospital. "Do not wait for the person to look or
feel sick. Keep a bottle of syrup of ipecac in your home, but use it
only when instructed by the poison control center."
When you call 911 or the poison control
center, have the following information ready: the victim’s age,
weight, and condition; the name of the product and ingredients, if
known; the time it was swallowed; and the amount swallowed. If possible,
take the empty bottle(s) that contained the ingested substance with you
to the hospital.
Sources: The
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
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Emergency
Services
at the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
When
seconds count . . . Count on us
The
Health Alliance hospitals, Christ, University, St. Luke, Jewish and Fort
Hamilton, are dedicated to providing our community with emergency services
of the highest quality. We offer many of the most experienced and most
trusted emergency care specialists—doctors, trauma surgeons, paramedics,
nurses, social workers and other staff. Our experienced staff members are
experts in every type of urgent care, from minor cuts to severe trauma.
The
Christ Hospital
in Mt. Auburn is a Level II emergency facility, handling most medical,
obstetric and traumatic emergencies. The emergency room specializes in
adult cardiac and complex internal medicine care.
The
University Hospital
in Clifton is the only verified Level I trauma center in the area that
treats adult patients. To receive trauma verification, hospitals must meet
rigorous national standards and have the capability of handling complex
multi-system trauma. The University Hospital is also home to the area’s
only center for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Center for Hyperbaric
Medicine is available 24 hours a day for the treatment of many conditions,
including carbon monoxide poisoning. Additional services include a Rapid
Diagnosis and Treatment Center for patients who require extended emergency
care; a Heart ER program; and a multidisciplinary team of professionals
who evaluate psychiatric emergencies.
The
University Hospital also offers Air Care, the area’s only dedicated
helicopter ambulance service. Our Air Care helicopters deliver superior
care while saving precious seconds that often mean the difference between
life and death. Since 1984, Air Care has provided more than 17,000
life-saving transports to patients within a 150-mile radius of Cincinnati
and beyond.
St.
Luke Hospital East
in Fort Thomas and St. Luke Hospital West in Florence are full
service emergency facilities dedicated to serving the communities of
Northern Kentucky. At St. Luke West, the Pediatric Urgent Care Center
provides immediate medical care to children when their doctors’ offices
are closed. The center is open daily between 4 and 11 p.m.
Serving
Cincinnati’s Northeast suburbs, The Jewish Hospital in Kenwood
offers a full service emergency department that treats patients of all
ages.
The
Fort Hamilton Hospital
in Hamilton is a full-service facility that is expanding to accommodate
additional patients. It includes a fast track area that treats most minor
injuries within one hour.
The
University Hospital, The St. Luke Hospitals and The Fort Hamilton Hospital
also offer a special program called SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)
for survivors of sexual assault. Specially trained nurses in these
emergency departments provide comprehensive, compassionate care for
victims of sexual assault. In addition, they provide evidence to
prosecutors and law enforcement officials to assist in the arrest and
prosecution of sexual assault criminals.
For
more information about the Health Alliance’s emergency services, please
call one of our hospitals:
The
Christ Hospital
2139 Auburn Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45219
513-585-2235 |
The
University Hospital
234 Goodman Street
Cincinnati, OH 45219
513-584-1000 |
St.
Luke Hospital East
85 North Grand Avenue
Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
859-572-3151 |
St.
Luke Hospital West
7380 Turfway Rd.
Florence, KY 41042
859- 962-5482 |
The
Jewish Hospital
4777 E. Galbraith Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45236
513-686-3204 |
The
Fort Hamilton Hospital
630 Eaton Avenue
Hamilton, OH 45013
513-867-2266 |
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| FYI Links: |
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Lead
poisoning |
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The
Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning is a non-profit
public interest organization dedicated to preventing childhood
lead poisoning.
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Is
it hazardous |
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Check your household
cleaners; how can you tell is there is a problem?
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What
about antidotes? |
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Go
here to learn more about common antidotes.
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