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Health & Fitness
?The New Jersey Poison Control Center urges implementing poison safety practices at home during National Poison Prevention Week.
NJ Poison Control Center, Community Contributor
Every day, the nation’s 54 poison control centers provide callers of all ages with life-saving information, guidance, and medical care regarding exposures to harmful or potentially harmful products and substances with medical outcomes ranging from minor to severe. Whether it’s a question or an emergency, calling a poison center is faster and more accurate than an internet search. More than 70% of people who call the Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) get the help they need right where they are —saving the cost of a trip to a healthcare professional or hospital.
The New Jersey Poison Control Center joins poison centers nationwide in celebrating National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), observed this year on March 16 to 22. This week is dedicated to promoting the importance of recognizing accidental poisoning risks, preventing injuries, establishing home safety practices, and raising community awareness about the valuable services provided by U.S. Poison Control Centers.
“As poisonings continue to be a leading cause of death and injury in New Jersey and across the county, it’s important to recognize that the majority of poisonings happen in homes and involve common everyday products from over-the-counter medicines and supplements to prescription drugs, and household cleaners and chemicals to cosmetic/personal care products,” said Bruce Ruck, managing director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
“People of all ages are at risk of poisoning when you combine accessibility with storage practices that are not safe enough,” Ruck said. “This is especially true with medicines as they are readily available in homes, while visiting friends and family, and online. Medicines not monitored and not kept in lockable areas often lead to accidental poisonings, overdose, and abuse. Medicines may also be purposefully misused in suicide attempts.”
Poisonings don’t always have early warning signs. When the unexpected happens, and you’re unsure about potential dangers or whether you should visit an emergency room, call the New Jersey Poison Control Center for medical help before doing anything. The expertise and guidance provided by the center’s toxicology specialists, including nurses, pharmacists, and doctors, help quickly address the situation, giving a caller peace of mind while providing medical care.
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Although accidents and mishaps occur, they can usually be avoided by following simple safety practices. The New Jersey Poison Control Center recommends the following safety tips to prevent poisonings at home.
If you think someone came in contact with something dangerous, contact the New Jersey Poison Control Center immediately for medical treatment advice and guidance. Anyone may call 24/7 for medical help - children, teens and adults.
Poison control centers are a medical resource for the public and healthcare providers. Get help 24/7: Call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 or start an online chat. If someone isn’t breathing, is having difficulty waking up or having a seizure, call 911.