Poison Control Preserves Critical COVID-19 Resources

Poison Control Services Preserve Critical COVID-19 Healthcare Resources

Washington, DC – Routines have suddenly changed with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Schools, day cares, and businesses are closed, and many people are working remotely. Hand sanitizer, cleaning products, and disinfectants are within close reach of our children. Our use of medications may be different than it was last week.

All of these changes make it a prime time for unintentional poisonings to happen at home. Prevent poisonings with the following precautions:

• Store medications and household products securely out of reach of children
• Read medicine labels and follow directions
• Use child-resistant packaging
• Keep batteries away from children; a swallowed battery can be fatal
• Don’t transfer non-food items into food or beverage containers
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm.

The National Capital Poison Center, founded in 1980, is an independent, not-for-profit organization and accredited poison center. Nurse and pharmacist Specialists in Poison Information and medical toxicologists provide free, 24/7 telephone guidance for poison emergencies. webPOISONCONTROL provides free triage recommendations and treatment guidance, online. Service focuses on the metro DC area with a national scope for webPOISONCONTROL and The Poison Post^®. Learn more at About Us, Infographic, Press Box, and www.poison.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

For more information:

Susie Johnson
Outreach Coordinator at National Capital Poison Center (Washington, DC)
johnson@poison.org

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