DALLAS (PRWEB) August 21, 2007
Showing posts with label Centers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Centers. Show all posts
Friday, 6 September 2013
Friday, 24 May 2013
AAPCC and Poison Centers Issue Warning About Concentrated Packets of Laundry Detergent
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) May 17, 2012
The American Association of Poison Control Centers and the experts at Americas 57 poison centers are urging the public, especially parents, to keep highly concentrated single dose packs of laundry detergent up and away from children, according to Debbie Carr, AAPCC executive director.
Poison centers are reporting a recent uptick in calls about exposures of children to laundry detergents packaged in small, single-dose packets. Some young children and toddlers who swallow these small packets have become very ill and have required hospitalization. Other children have gotten the product in their eyes, resulting in significant eye irritation. Some children have been exposed when the product burst after putting it into their mouths.
The following are examples of exposures to children who have become ill from concentrated laundry detergent packets:
Ten minutes after a 20-month-old swallowed a laundry detergent packet, the child developed profuse vomiting, wheezing and gasping and then became unresponsive to even painful stimuli.
A 15-month-old who bit into a pack and swallowed a mouthful had profuse vomiting and, after arrival at a hospital, had to be put on a ventilator for airway protection.
A 17-month-old bit into a packet and then rapidly developed drowsiness, vomited, breathed the product into the lungs, and had to be put on a ventilator.
The rapid onset of significant symptoms is pretty scary, said Dr. Michael Beuhler, medical director of the Carolinas Poison Center. Other laundry detergents cause only mild stomach upset or even no symptoms at all. Although we arent certain what in the product is making the children sick, we urge all parents and caregivers to make sure laundry detergent packs are not accessible to young kids.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers recommends the following steps:
Always keep detergents locked up and out of the reach of children.
Follow the specific disposal instructions on the label.
If you think a child has been exposed to a laundry detergent packet, call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.
For more information, the media may contact Loreeta Canton, AAPCC communications manager, at 703.894.1863, 701.391.0626 (cell phone) or canton(at)aapcc(dot)org or Brett Schuster, communications assistant, at 703.894.1859 or schuster(at)aapcc(dot)org.
The AAPCC supports the nations 57 poison centers in their efforts to treat and prevent drug, consumer product, animal, environmental and food poisoning. Members staff the Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222 that provides free, confidential, expert medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year from toxicology specialists, including nurses, pharmacists, physicians and poison information providers. In addition, the AAPCC maintains the only poison information and surveillance database in the United States, providing real-time monitoring of unusual poisoning patterns, chemical exposures and other emerging public health hazards. The AAPCC partners with federal agencies such as EPA, HRSA and the CDC, as well as private industry.
To learn more, visit http://www.aapcc.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or read our blog at aapcc.wordpress.com. To join your voice with other poison center supporters, register for the AAPCC advocacy network at http://www.capwiz.com/aapcc click on Action E-List.
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AAPCC and Poison Centers Issue Warning About Concentrated Packets of Laundry Detergent
Thursday, 14 February 2013
American Association of Poison Control Centers Celebrates 50th Annual Poison Prevention Week
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) March 14, 2012
The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) will join local poison centers and poison prevention partners across the country in celebrating the 50th anniversary of National Poison Prevention Week March 18 through 24, 2012, according to Dr. Rick Dart, AAPCC president.
Since 1962, the President of the United States has proclaimed the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of poisoning.
Much progress has been made in poisoning prevention in the 50 years since National Poison Prevention Week was first observed, Dart said. However, there is still much work to be done; poisoning is now the leading cause of death from unintentional injuries in the U.S. ahead of motor vehicle crashes and guns.
Fifty years ago, 3-year-old Philip was rushed to the nearest hospital 30 minutes away. Tragically, he had found and drunk a bottle of rat poison. Although every attempt was made to save his life, he lived only a few more hours. Fifty years later, his sister Cathy Seifried of Texas is still grieving. According to Seifried, her brothers death had long-lasting effects on her entire family. I had good parents, Seifried said. They managed to function and go through the daily motions, but as a family, we were broken.
Today, Seifried focuses on supporting poison control centers. If our family wouldve had access to the education, outreach and treatment services that todays poison centers offer, we may have avoided the heartbreak and devastation caused by my brothers death, Seifried said.
Cathys story illustrates the importance of the treatment services provided by Americas 57 poison centers, said Debbie Carr, AAPCC executive director. Unfortunately, federal budget cuts in 2011 reduced funding for poison centers by 36 percent; further cuts will make it difficult for poison centers to continue providing those essential, life-saving services.
According to Carr, Americas 57 poison centers are committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of every American through poison prevention and free, confidential, expert medical services. Poison centers respond to calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to help those who have been exposed to toxic substances. They also are committed to providing information about how poisonings occur and ways to prevent them.
In 2010, U.S. poison centers answered more than 3.9 million calls, including nearly 2.4 million calls about human exposures to poisons. About 75 percent of all calls to poison centers originated in peoples homes, and about 71 percent of the people who called with poison emergencies were treated at home following the advice of poison center experts, saving millions of dollars in medical expenses.
Since 1962, the third week of March has been designated National Poison Prevention Week and has focused national attention on the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them. Every day of this years 50th anniversary will focus on a poison-prevention-related theme:
Sunday, March 18 Poisonings Span a Lifetime
Monday, March 19 Children Act Fast So Do Poisons
Tuesday, March 20 Poison Centers: Saving Lives 24/7
Wednesday, March 21 Take Your Medicines Safely
Thursday, March 22 Home Safe Home
Friday, March 23 Poison Prevention Superheroes: Share Your Stories
Saturday, March 24 50 Ways To Prevent Poisonings
Philip has been gone for 50 years, Seifried said. I know there are many other stories just like his. For their sakes, please get involved with your local poison center in promoting poisoning prevention and the Poison Help number. You can make a difference.
If the unthinkable happens, its good to know help is just a phone call away, Dart said. Program your cell phone with the Poison Help number and post it near your home phone. 1-800-222-1222.
For more information, the media may contact Loreeta Canton, AAPCC communications manager, at 703.894.1863 or canton(at)aapcc(dot)org or Brett Schuster, communications assistant, at 703.894.1859 or schuster(at)aapcc(dot)org.
The AAPCC supports the nations 57 poison centers in their efforts to treat and prevent drug, consumer product, animal, environmental and food poisoning. Members staff the Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222 that provides free, confidential, expert medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year from toxicology specialists, including nurses, pharmacists, physicians and poison information providers. In addition, the AAPCC maintains the only poison information and surveillance database in the United States, providing real-time monitoring of unusual poisoning patterns, chemical exposures and other emerging public health hazards. The AAPCC partners with federal agencies such as EPA, HRSA and the CDC, as well as private industry.
To learn more, visit http://www.aapcc.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or read our blog at aapcc.wordpress.com.
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American Association of Poison Control Centers Celebrates 50th Annual Poison Prevention Week
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