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 centers like the IPC commonly handle eye exposure cases, with over 90,000 ocular exposures reported nationally in 2020 alone. Over the past five years, IPC has averaged just over 3,000 eye exposure cases per year. These exposures are usually accidental, often caused by an unintentional splash of liquid or gel, or sometimes resulting from … more
If you’ve spent time with babies and youngsters, you know they tend to stick everything in their mouths—or even noses! This is part of how they explore and learn, but it’s nothing to sneeze at (pun intended). Certain items can be dangerous or toxic. Plus, kids might do the darnedest things, but adolescents and adults … more
After a long winter and a rainy spring, summertime in Illinois is great time of year. Picnics, BBQ, hiking, festivals and lots of outdoor fun with friends and family make the Prairie State the place to be. With all the activity however, sometimes small children will eat non-food products and chemicals as they explore new … more
Part two of a three-part blog series: beverage container mishaps! Thirsty? Think twice before taking a swig! You never know if someone has used that container for transporting and/or storing cleaning products, chemicals, human/animal waste or who knows what! You won’t believe the calls we get regarding unexpected and potentially toxic things that end up … more
Many times we learn best from a juicy, fascinating human interest story. So…we thought we’d share a few cases with you, for prevention sake! This is part one of a three-part blog series re: things people put in their mouths (that create unexpected/unwanted results). Today, we’ll focus on…toothpaste errors. Oh, the interesting things we humans do when we … 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
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
