DALLAS - While holidays are a joyous time to celebrate, they can also be dangerous if certain precautions are not taken. The risk of poisoning increases when families and children are in unfamiliar settings - particularly those that are not "kid-proofed." If you're off to grandmother's house to celebrate the season, an expert from the North Texas Poison Center (NTPC) housed at Parkland Memorial Hospital shares how to prevent common causes of poisoning this time of year and what holiday items could pose a danger to you or your loved ones.
The NTPC, along with five other accredited regional poison centers, provides emergency treatment information to Texas residents for poisonings or toxic exposures. The NTPC region covers 42 counties and a population of more than 8 million people. Staff members are specialists in poison information (SPI) or certified specialists in poison information (CSPI) who are nationally certified registered nurses, pharmacists, physicians. The NTPC reports receiving higher-than usual call volumes during November, December and January, months often associated with holiday travel or hosting.
"It's very important to make sure that medications, alcohol and any items containing button batteries are out of reach from little ones," said Vannia Atao Wrobel, MPH, a public health educator with the NTPC. "Before traveling be sure to communicate with the family or friends you plan to visit and ask them if they have medications or other harmful substances within reach and make a plan to ensure they are put away."
According to America's Poison Centers, common seasonal poisoning hazards in the winter include:
"The holidays are a time for fun and to celebrate with those you love, but by having a plan and educating your loved ones, you can prevent accidental poisonings this season," Atao Wrobel said.
Specialists with the North Texas Poison Center are available 24/7 to answer questions for anyone with a poison question by calling 1-800-222-1222. The call is free, confidential and for non-English speaking persons, the Texas Poison Center Network has a translation service available for assistance in more than 160 languages.
For more information about Parkland, please visit www.parklandhealth.org.