By AgeElementary

Use Cleaners and Disinfectants Safely at Home

The Texas Poison Center Network (TPCN) has seen a 70% increase in calls related to cleaning products and disinfectants. We remind residents of the importance of proper use and handling of cleaning products and disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

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Button Batteries…They Look Innocent

Many toys and electronics are powered by small disc batteries.  These batteries are often accidentally swallowed by small children, and sometimes adults.  Every year in the United States, more than 3,500 people of all ages swallow these miniature disc or “button batteries”.  A study of 2,382 cases of battery...

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Child-Resistant is NOT Child-Proof

It seems as though those hard-to-open bottles have been around forever. And for new parents today, they have. But what is the reason and history behind the child-resistant packages? Back to the 1960s children were dying from poisonings in large numbers. The country developed an education program to warn parents...

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Halloween Safety Tips

Trick or Treaters Carry a flashlight Walk, don’t run Stay on sidewalks Obey all traffic signals Stay in familiar neighborhoods Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house If no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape Approach house that are lit Stay away from and don’t...

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Highly Concentrated “Single-Load Liquid Laundry Packets” Can Cause Serious Harm to Young Children

These new laundry packets dissolve in the washing machine. Because they are colorful and squishy, they are attractive to children. They can look like candy or something fun to play with. Poison centers receive many calls each year about children getting into laundry detergent. Swallowing it often causes mild stomach...

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A Word of Caution As You Treat the Flu

What do a lot of people do when they feel achy and are running a fever? They go straight to the medicine cabinet for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine. While OTC drugs can be helpful in controlling flu symptoms, it is easy to overdose on one very commonly available drug. Acetaminophen...

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Thinking Medication Safety As The Kids Go Back To School

Most schools will soon be back in session and for some Texas children, who take prescription medications during the day, a little extra planning is required before they head off to school or daycare. Every year the Texas Poison Center Network receives calls from schools and daycare centers about...

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You Need to Know: Infant’s & Children’s Acetaminophen Medicine Changes

What is the change? In the past, there have been two different concentrations of acetaminophen-containing liquid medications (such as Tylenol®) for children. These were infant (concentrated) drops that contained 80 mg of acetaminophen in each 0.8 mL and children’s liquid that contained 160 mg in each 5 mL. These two...

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What’s The Story On Children’s Over The Counter Cough and Cold Medicines?

If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve given your little ones cold medicine when they’re sick.  Now the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] is considering changing the labels on these medicines and the companies that make the most popular brands are already pulling them off the shelves.  Problems associated...

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Candy and Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning continues to be among the most common and serious environmental health threat to children under the age of six. Most children are poisoned through chronic, low-level exposures. Lead poisoning can cause problems such as lower IQ, hyperactivity, impaired growth, learning disabilities, and behavior problems. The candies listed below...

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