If you suspect that someone has been poisoned, time is of the essence to identify the issue and get them help. Poisoning can result from swallowing, inhaling, touching, or injecting any one of a variety of hazardous substances that include drugs, chemicals, venoms, or gases. Many common household items are poisonous or can be toxic under the wrong circumstances.
Call the Poison Control Center hotline, 800-222-1222, with a person’s symptoms, age, and possible poisonous substance whenever you suspect poisoning.
Signs of poisoning
Common household poisons
There are some things around the house that you might think are innocuous but really pose a serious risk to you or your children.
Wanting to clean your house is great, but mixing household cleaners can be poisonous. Chlorine bleach combined with ammonia or acids can lead to a chemical reaction emitting chlorine gas which is highly toxic.
Small batteries can lead to a burn within a couple of hours of ingesting. Children may put batteries in their mouths or even swallow small watch or button batteries. An X-ray would show the location of an ingested battery to determine the wisest course of action.
When mom of two Sara Torpey found out how dangerous batteries were, she took extra precaution. “Batteries are kept in the storage room and up high," she told Mom.com. "We’ve also talked to the kids about them, and about why they are away — it’s just as important for them to know what to do if they get access as it is for them not to have access.”
Medicated patches, such as nicotine patches, may seem like a fun sticker for a young child. They don’t realize the patch is transmitting a drug through their skin. Some people have reported finding the patches stuck on the roof of the mouth.
