Expand Your Knowledge of Poison Control Services during Poison Prevention Week

Knowing how to prevent unintentional poisonings is important. And so is knowing the number to poison control (1-800-222-1222- save it in your phone!) in the event that you or someone you know has ingested a potentially poisonous substance. That’s why the third week of March is dedicated to educating the public about poison control and its services.

During Poison Prevention Week (March 15th-21^st), educators throughout the country will be sharing poison prevention information as well as sharing all the services they provide through the poison control 24/7 toll-free number. Poisons are more common than people think and can happen to anyone. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, more than two million poisonings are reported each year and roughly 90 percent of these are happening in the home.

So what is considered a poison?

A poison is any substance, including medications, which can be harmful to your body if too much is ingested or absorbed through the body. An accidental poisoning occurs when someone takes too much of a substance without meaning to cause harm.

Accidental poisonings can be scary which is why poison control is here to help in your time of need. Below are some useful tips to avoid unintentional poisonings:

·         Keep all poisons locked up and out of reach of children (this includes cleaning products, medications, vitamins, etc.)

·         Never tell a child that vitamins are candy. This could lead them to eat more vitamins than they should which can be dangerous.

·         Keep a carbon monoxide detector working in your house all year round by changing the batteries twice a year. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent killer and very dangerous.

·         Calling 1-800-222-1222 from anywhere in the United States will connect you with your local poison center.

For more information on poison control and poison prevention, please visit www.poisoncontrol.org.

Burn Awareness Week: Tips on Avoiding Burns on You and Your Family

When most people hear burn, they associate it with fire. And as we all know, fire can be dangerous especially if it makes contact with the skin. The first week of February marks Burn Awareness Week which is a great time to focus on teaching kids safety tips that will help them avoid burn injuries.

Many items can easily burn us from cooking liquids to grease to hot water and hot foods. A whopping 46% of burns reported occurred from these scalding items with 53% of this number being from children under five years old. Scalds are actually the most common burn injury in young children and, sadly, one of the leading causes of accidental death.

While these numbers can be scary to hear, as a community and within our homes, we can help eliminate and prevent these injuries from occurring with a few simple actions on our part. Here are some tips to helping prevent burns!

·         Make sure to supervise children while they are in the kitchen or dining area. Accidents happen very quickly.

·         Children are always reaching and grabbing for things. To prevent spills while cooking on the stove, use the back burners.

·         Keep hot foods out of reach of children.

·         Have your hot water heater set to a max of 120 Fahrenheit to prevent accidental scalding.

·         Matches, gasoline and lighters should always be out of sight and out of reach of children.

·         Already been burned? Cool it under cold running water for 10-15 minutes. But if the burn is serious, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1.

 This week gives you a chance to brush up on your safety skills and is a great opportunity to check your fire alarms and practice a home fire drill. You can never be too safe! For more information on Burn Awareness Week visit http://www.ameriburn.org/preventionBurnAwareness.php.

Message from Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue:

Don’t Forget to Take Out the Battery!

Kids love cell phones. They have tons of buttons, can make fun sounds, watch videos and even play games. So it comes as no surprise that small children would love to play with an old phone you might not be using anymore. While this might seem harmless, since the phone is no longer in service, it can actually be a major issue for 9-1-1.

What many people might not know is that even when a phone is disconnected from service, it can still dial 9-1-1 for an emergency as long as the battery has some charge to it. 9-1-1 telecommunicators receive numerous calls a day from disconnected phones that accidentally dial 9-1-1. The problem with these accidental 9-1-1 calls is that they tie up the phone lines making real emergency calls harder for telecommunicators to get to.

A while back, Longmont, Colorado produced a video PSA reminding people to take out the battery. This cute video reminds folks that while phones can be fun for kids to play with, it is important to remove the battery before allowing the children to play with the phone. That way, no accidental 9-1-1 calls are made. Check out the video below!

And remember, if you aren’t using an old cell phone anymore, please take out the battery. Or better yet, donate the phone to a local shelter or charity that can provide these phones with people who need them.  

 

New Year’s Eve Safety Tips from Cell Phone Sally

It’s time to celebrate the beginning of a new year! Can you believe it is almost 2015 already? While this is a wonderful time to celebrate, it is also a great time to remember the importance of safety so that you can enjoy your New Year’s Eve to the fullest!

Here are some great safety tips to ensure you and your loved ones enjoy ringing in the New Year:

·         If you plan on drinking, please make sure you have a designated driver. Even if you have only had a couple drinks, it is never a good idea to drive. Practice safety first!

·         If you will be attending a party or an event where there will be a lot of people, never let your drink out of your sight. You never know if someone will tamper with your drink so keep it in your sight or in your hands at all times.

·         If you live in a city, then you most likely cannot use fireworks due to safety issues and hazards. Why not leave the fireworks to the professionals and go see a display put on in your local area?

·         Safety is always in numbers so whatever you decide to do, make sure you are not alone. Staying in groups will ensure you have a great evening!

·         If you have pets, bring them inside tonight because fireworks can be very frightening for them.

·         And of course, remember to have fun! And if you find yourself in an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1.

 Cell Phone Sally wishes you a Happy New Year! May 2015 be memorable for you as well as for 9-1-1 public education- Cheers!

Practice Safety First When Traveling for the Holidays

Many people have begun or will begin traveling to different cities, states and sometimes countries, to spend time with their loved ones this holiday season. While it is the most wonderful time of year, it is almost an important time of year to practice safety first!

Here are some quick tips on keeping you and your family safe as you travel.

Traveling Away From the Home

• Make sure all your doors and windows are locked in the home before leaving.
• If you have an alarm, make sure to turn it on while you are out of town.
• Have a neighbor or family member watch your house, pick up your mail and even park in your driveway periodically, if possible.
• Leave a radio or television on so the house sounds occupied.
• Make sure expensive items or gifts in your home are not visible through windows or doors.
• If you have a Christmas tree, make sure it is placed in water or wet sand to keep it fresh.

On the Road

• Keep all doors locked and windows closed when you are away from your vehicle. This will help prevent thieves from easy access to your valuables.
• Never leave your car unoccupied while it is running. (And as a reminder, don’t leave children unattended in the car either for their safety too)
• When leaving your vehicle, make sure all valuables are out of sight. If you have to leave something in your car, put it in the trunk.
• Always remember to wear your seatbelt and practice cautious driving, especially if road conditions are bad.
• Never drink and drive.
• If you are involved in an accident, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1 for help.

Whatever your plans may be for the holidays, we hope everyone enjoys time with loved ones. Remember: practice safety first and we will see you all again next year in 2015! 

 

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

As the weather becomes colder throughout the country, we are reminded of the risks of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning that can occur especially during this time of year. Also known as the quiet killer, CO comes from fumes produced by furnaces, vehicles, portable generators, stoves, lanterns, gas ranges, or burning charcoal or wood. When the fumes become trapped inside the home, it can potentially cost lives.

Now is the time to make sure your homes are equipped with CO detectors. (Don’t forget to replace the batteries on a regular basis- at least once a year!) More than 500 people die each year due to unintentional CO poisoning. By recognizing and preventing CO poisoning, you can help lower the number of unintentional deaths and help save lives.

The scary thing about CO poisoning is that the symptoms are very similar to the flu. Because of this, many people do not realize they have had CO poisoning. The most common symptoms are: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

What can you do to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?

·         Have your heating and water system (or anything serviced by gas) checked once a year for any problems by a qualified technician.

·         Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors in your home and change the batteries at least once a year. 

·         Please seek medical attention or call 9-1-1 immediately if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.

·         Do not use camp stoves, generators, grills or anything gasoline or charcoal-burning inside the home or garage.

·         Never leave a vehicle running in the garage.

·         Never heat your home with a gas oven

·         Do not burn anything in a stove or fireplace without ventilation.

Remember, carbon monoxide poisoning IS preventable! Make sure to protect yourself and your family by being prepared and aware. If you think you might have carbon monoxide poisoning, please call the Poison Control Network at 1-800-222-1222. If someone is having life threatening reactions, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1. For more information on carbon monoxide poisoning, please visit the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm.

 

 

Thanksgiving: A Time of Thanks with Reminders to Be Safe

Thanksgiving is around the corner and soon people all over will be busy whipping up delicious dishes for their family and friends to enjoy. While this time of year reminds us all to be thankful for our blessings, it is also a good time of year to remind children what to do in case of an emergency! (You know- call 9-1-1!)

Here are some helpful tips to get you through Thanksgiving safe and sound!

Traveling

Many families will be on the road traveling to visit friends and relatives for Thanksgiving. Please remember not to use your cell phone when you are driving. It is best to always pull over if you need to talk on the phone. And it is especially important to never text and drive. It only takes seconds for an accident to occur so keep your eyes on the road. Distracted drivers and any harsh weather conditions can be a recipe for disaster. So remember- keep alert and dial 9-1-1 if you find yourself in an emergency situation.

Cooking

One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is all the delicious dishes created by loved ones! When preparing yummy dishes, please remember to be safe. Below you can find important information on fire-safe cooking from the National Fire Protection Association. Remember; if a fire occurs please do not hesitate to dial 9-1-1 for help!

Home Safety

Be smart if you plan to travel away from your home for the holidays. Do not post that you are going to be out of town on any social media sites. Secure all windows and doors so there is no easy entry into your home and set an alarm system if you have one. If you can, have a friend move your car occasionally while you are gone so it looks like someone is home. Thieves love to prey on easy targets so please do not be an easy target and keep your home safe.

NFPA Cooking Safety Tips: http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/Files/Safety%20information/For%20consumers/Cooking/CookingSafetyInfographic.pdf