HSHS hospitals offer five tips to prevent accidental poisoning

Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, Wis.  –  The National Safety Council (NSC) reports more than 90% of all poisonings happen at home. Cosmetics and personal care products lead the list of most common substances implicated in pediatric poison exposures.

According to the most recent data from the NSC, one poison exposure was reported to U.S. poison control centers every 15 seconds in 2020. 

As part of National Poison Prevention Week, March 19-25, HSHS Sacred Heart and St Joseph’s hospitals remind you about the dangers of potentially poisonous medicines and chemicals and shares tips on how to keep your loved ones safe.  

“In the emergency department, we treat accidental poison consumptions that can range from children swallowing soap or cleaning products to adults taking an unadvised dosage of certain medicines,” said Tyler Bowe, HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals’ trauma coordinator. “It’s important to keep any potentially harmful products out of the reach of children and read labels carefully before taking any medications.” 

If you encounter someone who was potentially exposed to poisonous substances:  

1. Call 911 if they are unconscious or having difficulty breathing. 
2. Remain calm. 
   • Most poison emergencies can be resolved quickly over the phone. 
3. Contact the Poison Control helpline. 
   • Online help is available at poison.org or by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Both options are free, confidential and staffed by experts. 

Preventive measures are always the best way to protect your family from accidental poisoning. Tips include: 

• Place household cleaning products up and away, out of children’s reach and sight. Make sure to put cleaning supplies and chemicals away after every use. 
• Keep all household cleaning products in their original containers. When buying products, look for child-resistant containers for an extra layer of protection. 
• Check your home for products that might be harmful to kids like cleaning supplies, liquid laundry packets, plants, pesticides, alcohol and medicine. Keep personal care products such as lotion, makeup, cleanser and deodorant where kids can’t get into them. 
• Be aware of any medications or makeup that may be in your purse, laptop bag or backpack. Store handbags out of the reach of young children. 
• Never call medicine ‘candy’ to get a child to take it when needed.

For more information on how to protect yourself and your family, visit www.poison.org.  

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About HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889, it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition.

About HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1885, it has served the people of the Chippewa Falls area with health care that is high tech and high touch. Known locally for the quality of the care it provides patients, the hospital has been recognized nationally for its outstanding patient satisfaction levels. 

About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries,  and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.