Keep the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, near your phone. Or enter it into speed dial so that it is quickly available.

Poison Prevention Tips
There are many easy steps you can take to prevent poisonings. Lots of these are quick and easy, and go a long way toward preventing poisonings. For example:

• Never mix household and chemical products together. A poisonous gas may be created when mixing chemicals.
• DO NOT use food containers such as cups or bottles to store household and chemical products.
• Read and follow the directions and warnings on the label before taking any medicine. If you have any questions about the intended use of your medicine, contact your doctor.
• Never share prescription medicines. Medicines should be taken by the person prescribed and for the reason prescribed.

Of course, those are just a few things you can do to prevent poisonings. For more information, take a look at the Poison Help seasonal tip sheets in the Communication Tools section. Here, you’ll find tip sheets for Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer. There is also a whole tip sheet with prevention tips to use during the holiday season.


What to do in a Poisoning Emergency
Follow these basic steps at the first sign of a poisoning:

• The person inhaled poison.
• Get to fresh air right away.
• Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).
• The person has poison on the skin.
• Take off any clothing the poison touched.
• Rinse skin with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).
• The person has poison in the eyes.
• Rinse eyes with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).

In some cases, you should not try to give first aid. You will need to call the experts fast if:

• The person swallowed the wrong medicine or too much medicine.
• Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).
• The person has collapsed or stopped breathing.
• Call 911 or your local emergency number

For more information on what to do in a poisoning emergency, take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions about Poisonings tip sheet.


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