Autumn Poisoning Prevention

Poison Prevention Tips

  • Be prepared.
    • Make sure you always have the Poison Control number (1-800-222-1222, US only) on hand by putting it in, on, or near your phone.
    • Bookmark webPOISONCONTROL in your browser
  • Store medicines and products in their original containers.
  • Cold and flu season starts, so be alert to safe use of medications.
    • Be sure not to use two or more products that contain the same drug. Watch especially for too much acetaminophen.
    • Talk to your doctor before taking herbals and supplements. Make sure they don’t interfere with your medications.
    • Never take medicine in the dark. Never take other people's prescriptions. Read the warnings and follow the directions on the label!
  • Avoid wild mushrooms. Get your mushrooms from the market. Unless you are an expert, you can’t tell the poisonous ones from the safe ones. And the most toxic mushrooms, called "death caps" (Amanita species) may be growing in your own yard. Just a few bites can cause fatal liver damage.
  • Children are attracted to colorful berries but some are poisonous. Know the names of the plants that grow where your children play and know which are dangerous.
  • Fall Back! Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide alarms when you set your clocks back. Keep appliances, furnaces, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves in good repair.
 

Related Articles

Are Tarantulas Dangerous? Are Tarantulas Dangerous?
Allergic Reactions to the Black-Eyed Susan Flower Allergic Reactions to the Black-Eyed Susan Flower
Coral Snake Bite Treatment Coral Snake Bite Treatment
Are Cocklebur Seeds Safe to Eat? Are Cocklebur Seeds Safe to Eat?
Hydraulic Fluids are Potentially Dangerous Hydraulic Fluids are Potentially Dangerous
How Dangerous is Pepper Spray? How Dangerous is Pepper Spray?
Is Ant Bait Safe Around Children? Is Ant Bait Safe Around Children?
Kissing Bugs and Chagas Disease Kissing Bugs and Chagas Disease
Giant Hogweed and Its Toxic Cousins Giant Hogweed and Its Toxic Cousins
An Introduction to Common Tick-borne Diseases An Introduction to Common Tick-borne Diseases
Virginia Creeper and Wisteria Toxicity Virginia Creeper and Wisteria Toxicity
Tulip Bulb Toxicity Tulip Bulb Toxicity
Can Poison Hemlock Be Deadly? Can Poison Hemlock Be Deadly?
Stung by an Ant? Stung by an Ant?
Are Pyracantha Berries Poisonous? Are Pyracantha Berries Poisonous?
Are Water Purifying Chemicals Safe? Are Water Purifying Chemicals Safe?
Treating Tick Bites Treating Tick Bites
Brake Fluid (diethylene glycol) Brake Fluid (diethylene glycol)
Concern about Hair Dye Concern about Hair Dye
SNRI Antidepressants SNRI Antidepressants
Don't Get Burned by Cement Don't Get Burned by Cement
Insect Repellents Insect Repellents
I Just Broke A Thermometer I Just Broke A Thermometer
Mosquitoes - Annoying Insects that can Spread Disease Mosquitoes - Annoying Insects that can Spread Disease
Holly Berries Holly Berries
Poisonous and Non-Poisonous Plants Poisonous and Non-Poisonous Plants
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac
Brown Recluse Spider Bites Brown Recluse Spider Bites
Wild Mushroom Warning Wild Mushroom Warning
Fall Berries Only LOOK Edible! Fall Berries Only LOOK Edible!
Siphoning Gasoline Siphoning Gasoline
Mothballs Can Be Poisonous Mothballs Can Be Poisonous
Yew and Paclitaxel Yew and Paclitaxel
Lawn Chemicals Lawn Chemicals
Pokeberries: A Grape Look Alike Pokeberries: A Grape Look Alike
Safe Use of Antihistamines Safe Use of Antihistamines
Black Widow Spider Bites Can Be Dangerous Black Widow Spider Bites Can Be Dangerous
Lyme Disease Lyme Disease

Poisoned? Get Expert Help.

Don't guess what you should do. Get accurate Poison Control answers online or by phone. Both are free and confidential.

Get HELP ONLINE

or CALL 1-800-222-1222

Get the App!

Download the free
webPOISONCONTROL® app.

apple-logogoogle-app

Subscribe to The Poison Post®

The Poison Post® is a free, quarterly e-newsletter delivering poison prevention tips right to your inbox!

The Poison Post

Learn the Poison Prevention Jingles

Learn the Poison Help jingle in English or Spanish. Use these jingles to teach the Poison Control number: 1-800-222-1222. Available for download.

Jingles

Poison Statistics

2013 outcome stats promo graph

View more statistics