Articles by Poisonology
The latest articles from the Poisonology Blog
Be 'Poison-Smart' When Buying Home
Posted - 4/18/2011 at 12:27PM by Liz Barta
Buying a home can be a stressful experience in and of itself, with home inspections, offers and counter-offers and closings creating a bureaucratic minefield for buyers. But if you think that's stressful, try buying a house only to realize that there are a myriad of health hazards to fix.Lead, rado...
Fake Pot, Fake Cocaine: Very Real, Very Dangerous Symptoms
Posted - 4/18/2011 at 12:19PM by Liz Barta
One is marketed as "fake marijuana." The other is advertised as "fake cocaine" or "fake meth." Both were initially sold under the premise of being legal equivalents to illegal drugs. But both are causing side effects that are generating a slew of calls to poison centers and spurring concern among ...
Medicines Are Leading Cause of Poison Death
Posted - 3/28/2011 at 12:23PM by Liz Barta
Medications remain the leading cause of poisoning deaths, with most poisoning fatalities occurring among adults, according to a report by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Based on data from 2009 calls to U.S. poison centers, fthe report found that sedatives/hynotics/ antipsychot...
Use our free iPhone app
Posted - 3/25/2011 at 5:23PM by Keith Boesen
I want to let you smartphone users know about a new free application that could save you precious minutes in a health emergency. It connects you quickly to the poison center nearest you. The app, now available for iPhones, is at the iTunes marketplace. Just go to iTunes apps and search for "Poison...
800-222-1222: A Very Good Number To Know
Posted - 3/18/2011 at 5:38PM by Keith Boesen
Find a packet of something labeled K2 in your teen's pocket and need to know what it is?Think your aging parent took an extra dose of her medication?Wondering if you need the ER for that painful scorpion sting? In each of these cases, the easy answer to "Who you gonna call?" to get dependable info...
Here's Glue in Your Eye
Posted - 2/11/2011 at 12:25PM by Liz Barta
Eyelids stuck together with Super Glue? Relax, it won't be permanent and you should be OK with the proper care. You may have heard the story about a woman who accidentally glued her eye shut when she mistook Super Glue for eye drops. The woman had had cataract surgery and reached for what she t...
Ipecac: Not a good idea
Posted - 1/20/2011 at 2:09PM by Liz Barta
DID YOU KNOW THAT... ipecac syrup is no longer being manufactured? Ipecac syrup was approved by the FDA in 1965 as an over-the-counter product to induce vomiting in patients who ingested poisons and drug overdoses. In 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that it was no longer endor...
Preventing common birth defects
Posted - 1/12/2011 at 11:48AM by Keith Boesen
In observance of National Birth Defects Prevention Month, here is another special article by the experts at the Arizona Pregnancy Riskline, colleagues of the poison center. The Pregnancy Riskline is a statewide public serves that provides accurate information to callers about possible effects of m...
Resolve To Ring in 2011 Safely
Posted - 12/16/2010 at 10:27AM by Liz Barta
It's nearly time for that last blast of partying - New Year's Eve. Sure, there's plenty of advice available on how to avoid a New Year's Day hangover, but it's a little harder to find tips on avoiding the emergency room. Here's a little advice on safe celebrating. Happy 2011! Remember, all dr...
Keep the Season Merry & Safe
Posted - 12/14/2010 at 10:29AM by Liz Barta
The old Christmas song says the holiday season is "the most wonderful time of the year," and that can certainly be true. By taking a few precautions, you can focus on family and fun this holiday season ¬- and ideally avoid some of the holiday hazards. Here are a few tips from the poison center t...
Dangers for Pregnant Women Lurk in Food & Drink
Posted - 12/8/2010 at 2:29PM by Liz Barta
During this holiday season we offer a special article written by the experst at the Arizona Pregnancy Riskline, colleagues of the poison center. The riskline is a statewide public service that provides accurate information to callers about possible effects a medication or substance may have durin...
Give thanks for a safe Thanksgiving
Posted - 11/2/2010 at 2:57PM by Liz Barta
You've spent hours on the turkey, just barely avoided botching the gravy and successfully kept the pie crust from burning. Your Thanksgiving meal will be delicious. And by taking a few extra steps, the only discomfort afterwards will be from full stomachs. Here are a few tips from the American ...
Poisoning in 4 Easy Steps
Posted - 10/28/2010 at 11:42AM by Liz Barta
The U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has created some wonderful poison prevention information. Included are very four short videos covering the basics of how to avoid poisonings and what to do if you think you were poisoned. Have a look: http://tinyurl...
Preserving foods safely
Posted - 10/11/2010 at 11:27AM by Liz Barta
This summer I made a trip to Ohio, where home-grown tomatoes can take over the world, and I realized that home canning is coming back into fashion. I saw an ad for a canning class recently from the Pima County Cooperative Extension, too. It seems that with the decline in the economy more people a...
Keep the glow in Halloween
Posted - 10/4/2010 at 10:32AM by Ken Fey
I need to confess something to the readers. I love Halloween. I mean I really truly enjoy the Halloween season. Mostly, I like the candy. By all means, if you are interested in sending candy my way after reading this blog, act on your instincts. The preferred candies are jujyfruits, dots, bottl...
