Have you ever been dared or challenged to do something that seemed harmless but turned out to be risky? If so, you’re not alone. Sometimes people feel pressured to accept a challenge that involves eating or drinking large amounts of something – often common products around the house. Participating in a challenge, though, could put … more
A common reaction many people have when a child ingests something potentially harmful is to make them throw up. Our parents did it and it seems like a natural instinct, but inducing vomiting is not always the best course of action. Historically, we would make children vomit with syrup of ipecac (SOI). The idea was … more
Feeling overheated under the hot summer sun is a common experience. But for some people, experiencing a spike in body temperature—known as hyperthermia—can result from taking certain medications. A recent medical journal article discussed a case of a person whose body temperature reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit while on multiple medications. Fortunately, this patient recovered but … more
From the sizzle of barbecues to the colorful explosions in the night sky, the Fourth of July holiday is filled with excitement and joy. As you gear up to celebrate Independence Day with family and friends, it’s important to be mindful of potential poisoning hazards that can occur. IPC is sharing some of the most … more
Life is busy, sometimes hectic, and mistakes happen. We know! That’s why we’re here to help you avoid those uh-oh moments we’ve heard time and time again. Callers to IPC’s helpline have sought our advice for so many different potentially harmful cases. But when we hear about the same scenarios regularly, we have learned that … more
If you answered the question above with, “Call the Illinois Poison Center (IPC),” that is a great answer! According to the National Poison Data System (NPDS), 260,000 cases reported to U.S. regional poison centers every year involve medication errors. With nearly 1 out of every 8 cases handled by poison centers involving a medication error, … more
Every year in Illinois, the glorious days of summer lead to the cooler days of fall and eventually the bone-chilling cold of winter. Hats, scarves, thick coats and gloves become a necessity when venturing outside. To keep our indoor spaces comfortable, the indoor thermostats are inched a little warmer and furnaces start to work more … more
Basements, attics, furnace rooms, barns, sheds/garages…you never know where seriously scary poisons will show up. Some of these poisons have been banned for decades in the U.S. (or used under very tight restrictions) but still available in other areas of the world. Every once in a while, the IPC gets called because someone brought a … more
In medicine one of the ways information is shared among healthcare professionals is by publishing interesting, unusual or emerging case reports in peer reviewed medical journals. While this is not a case managed by the Illinois Poison Center, I thought it was important to share this real life situation! Case Report: A 2 year old … more
Mushrooms, fungi, toadstools—no matter what you call them, you have probably seen them growing in your yard and everywhere you travel. They come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes—not to mention smells—and range from edible delicacy to deadly poisonous. Illinois certainly has its share of wild, funky, as well as poisonous mushrooms found throughout … more
We get some crazy calls here at the IPC, including some that are a little gross—such as when someone has eaten a BUG. I’m a cold-weather person for a number of reasons, one of which is there are considerably fewer bugs around in winter. Warm weather means a greater chance of a run in with … more
It has been a long winter and most Illinoisans are ready for summer and back yard barbeque season. This summer will be a time for many of us to reconnect with family and friends with large gatherings, food, fun and laughter. However, nothing can ruin a party more than an outbreak of food-borne illness among … more
Much of the population is familiar with the common sun protection methods, could your daily medications put you at risk for becoming sunburned instead of sun-kissed? In Illinois, the cold, harsh winter season is quickly coming to a close, and the long-awaited sunshine is just around the corner. Let me tell you what, I am … more
Sixty years ago, on February 7, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed Proclamation 3449 declaring the observation of the very first National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) beginning on March 18th that year. Legislation passed by Congress in 1961 called on the President to designate the third week of March as NPPW. The objective was to … more
New words of advice from the IPC: Best to know before you go or in this case, get it on (if you know what we mean)! Sorry to tell you, but some potentially toxic/harmful substances can be transmitted via intimate, physical contact as well as by exposure to bodily fluids. The good news…here’s your chance … more
Did you know that the skin is not a tissue? It’s actually the largest organ of the body. Skin and its derivatives (hair, nails, specialized nerve endings as well as sweat and oil glands) make up the integumentary system, which has three main functions: protection, regulation and sensation. Here are some other fascinating facts: Your … more
Poison hemlock is a toxic plant that has appeared in history and literature for thousands of years. But what is it, exactly? And why is still a problem today? We are going to dive into the botanical world of plant identification and toxicology with a short Q & A about this impressive plant.
Summer is here! Concerts, county fairs and parties are back after more than a year of social distancing and isolation. For some people, the recreational use and misuse of prescription medications is part of the summer party experience. Unfortunately, if you get a pill online or from a friend of a friend, it is likely … more
Ahhh, you’ve finally made plans to kick back and relax with a warm aromatherapy soak, or maybe an icy pitcher of margaritas outdoors…but beware! The citrus that you use might just change your chill to a shrill (image credit).
Esperamos que haya disfrutado de nuestra maratón de blogs de Un día en la vida del centro contra intoxicaciones. Esos casos representan solo un día aquí en IPC; lo que se traduce en casi 80.000 personas a las que ayudamos cada año en Illinois. Es de esperar que después de leer estos casos de ejemplo, se … more
¿Quiere saber cómo es trabajar en un centro contra intoxicaciones? ¿Alguna vez se preguntó qué tipo de llamadas recibimos? Todas estas llamadas son representativas del tipo de llamadas que recibe el IPC un día cualquiera. Se presentan en un período de tiempo de llamada simulado y los detalles se han cambiado para proteger la privacidad … more
Un niño de 11 meses jugaba con el tubo de crema para pañales mientras su padre le cambiaba el pañal. Mordió el tubo e ingirió un bocado de crema. El personal de EMS (Servicios médicos de emergencia) llamó porque están transportando a un paciente que fue encontrado por su esposa; ella se despertó esta mañana … more
Un niño de 14 meses le dio un mordisco al desodorante en barra de su madre. La madre pudo quitar la mayor parte del material de su boca, pero tragó un poco. Un niño de 2 años ingirió una cantidad desconocida de vitaminas gomosas. Una mujer de 60 años confundió su insulina y tomó 20 unidades de … more
Un niño de 3 años ingirió un paquete completo de Rolaids. Una mujer de 23 años está en la sala de emergencias porque había estado usando un pesticida para exteriores (clorpirifós) dentro de su casa reiteradamente durante el transcurso de la semana pasada. Ella experimenta síntomas de mareos y somnolencia. Se encontró a un niño … more
El personal de una sala de emergencias pidió ayuda por un hombre adulto que sacaron inconsciente de un tanque que había estado limpiando en su lugar de trabajo. Un niño ingirió un bocado de quitaesmalte de uñas con acetona. Un grupo de madres quería solicitar algunos materiales de prevención contra intoxicaciones. IPC les indicó que … more
