Poison Look-Alikes

Summertime is here. School is out and children are spending more time at home. Do you know what potential poisons are in your household? 

Could you, your children, or your babysitter mistake a harmful product for a safe product? You may be surprised by how often these close calls happen!

Most of us have safe products and potentially harmful products that can be mistaken for one another.  Products can get mixed up because:

1. The product itself looks identical or very similar to a safe product, and/or
2. The product comes in similar packaging.

Some of these poison look-alikes include:

• Gummy candy and gummy vitamins
• Chewing gum and nicotine gum
• Eye drops and super glue
• Chocolate candy and chocolate laxative
• Sports drink and glass cleaner
• Candy and laundry detergent pods

People of all ages, not just small children, can be poisoned by look-alike products. Have you ever grabbed the antibiotic ointment instead of the toothpaste? Poisoning can happen that easily. 

Keep these tips in mind to help prevent accidental poisoning: 

• Store food away from household cleaners, beauty aids, and medicines. 
• Always keep products in their original containers.
• Ask the pharmacy to provide large-print medication labels. 
• Take medications in a well-lit area and use glasses or a magnifying glass if necessary. 

Poison exposure? Get help.

You can get help for a poison exposure by calling the national Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or by using their online tool, webPOISONCONTROL. In some circumstances, you must call the help line. To find out when you should use the help line or online tool, visit their website at https://www.poison.org/about-webpoisoncontrol. Save the toll-free number in your phone and download the app for quick access.

If you have a babysitter or your child is a babysitter, have them save the number and download the app to their phones too. Make sure they know when and how to properly use this resource. 

Who answers my call?

When you call the toll-free Poison Help Line, they will connect you with your local poison control center. Mississippi’s is located at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Specially trained nurses answer calls 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Learn more about the Mississippi Poison Control Center. 

“Poison Look-Alikes: Tips to Prevent Accidental Poisoning at All Ages,” a joint publication by University of Maryland Extension and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, includes more prevention tips and information.

You can also get assistance from the Poison Help Line when:

• You’ve taken the wrong medication or taken too much of a medication.
• You’ve been stung or bitten by an insect you think is poisonous.
• You need first aid advice.

Learn more about common summertime poison exposures, how to prevent them, and other first aid information on the Poison Control website. 

For more information about the national Poison Help Line visit the Health Resources & Services Administration Poison Help website and the National Capital Poison Center.

Extension’s Healthy Homes Initiative Program

Extension’s Healthy Homes Initiative program offers training on 12 indoor health and safety subject areas, including hazardous household products, for childcare providers, families, housing professionals, public health nurses, and others. Find out more about this training, who can benefit, and how to schedule a training.