Dr. Gerald Wydro, chair of emergency medicine at Aria Health’s Torresdale Campus emergency department, offers the following tips for poison prevention:
• Before you buy an item, read the labels and warnings. It is important to be educated about the products you are bringing into your home.
• Designate a safe place for potentially harmful products. If an item could potentially cause harm if used incorrectly, keep the product out of reach. Place these products in a locked drawer or a high place. Don’t leave these products out on counters where they can be easily accessed.
• Use caution when using household chemical products. Before you begin using these products, take precautions to protect yourself. Consider wearing rubber gloves to protect your hands, as well as clothing that limits exposure of the skin.
• When in doubt, call for help.
If you suspect someone has ingested something harmful, call the Poison Help Line at 1–800–222–1222. If the person in question is unresponsive or unconscious, dial 911 immediately. ••
