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(HealthNewsDigeswt.com) – TUCSON, Ariz. – As Halloween time nears, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center wants parents and grandparents to watch for common risks to kids. Be alert for:
Glow Stick Exposures Call 800-222-1222 for Help
Sometimes youngsters break or gnaw on the sticks and come in contact with the “glow.” Fortunately, the colorful liquid is low on the toxicity scale. If ingested, minor stomach upset and mouth irritation are possible, but unlikely. The liquid can irritate the eyes. If your child is exposed to glow stick liquid, don’t panic – but do call the center at 1-800-222-1222 for instructions on what to do based on your child’s symptoms.
Tampered Treats
Though this is certainly a potential danger, the actual number of cases of illness or injury traced each year to candy contamination is extremely small. Still, prevention is always wise. Inspect treats before allowing children to eat them. If you suspect tampering, throw the treat away; if it already has been eaten, consult the poison center immediately! If a sweet has been altered with glass, razor blades or other foreign objects, report this to your local sheriff’s department or police department.
Remember there is the possibility of a child getting edible marijuana “treats.” If you believe your child has been exposed to marijuana, please call the poison experts at 1-800-222-1222. The center is the resource in the state for medical marijuana questions and exposures.
Look-Alikes
Medications – Many medicines look similar to candies, which can lead to deadly mistakes by children looking for a treat. Consult the poison center if someone has taken an unknown medicine or you need information about a drug.
Liquid candles – The liquid candles sometimes used in jack-o-lanterns can look like fruit juices. If ingested, the liquid inside these candles can cause a potentially life-threatening condition. Signs include respiratory problems, such as coughing, choking, wheezing and difficulty breathing, which may be delayed as much as eight hours from the time of ingestion. If this is a concern, consult the poison center immediately!
On Halloween or any other day of the year, call the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at 800-222-1222 if you think someone has been poisoned or you need information about preventing accidental poisonings. Enter the number into your phone so you always have it available for emergencies.
About the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center
The Arizona Poison and Drug Information is a free and confidential public health service located at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy in Tucson. Accredited by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, it serves 14 of Arizona’s 15 counties. The Banner Good Samaritan Poison and Drug Information Center serves Maricopa County.
About the University of Arizona Health Sciences
The University of Arizona Health Sciences is the statewide leader in biomedical research and health professions training. The UA Health Sciences includes the UA Colleges of Medicine (Phoenix and Tucson), Nursing, Pharmacy and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, with main campus locations in Tucson and the growing Phoenix Biomedical Campus in downtown Phoenix. From these vantage points, the UA Health Sciences reaches across the state of Arizona and the greater desert Southwest to provide cutting-edge health education, research, patient care and community outreach services. A major economic engine, the UA Health Sciences employs almost 5,000 people, has nearly 1,000 faculty members and garners more than $126 million in research grants and contracts annually. For more information: http://ahsc.arizona.edu
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