What is it going to cost you? Make no doubt about it; these are tough times for non-profit health services, especially those that have a limited ability to charge for their services. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the financial benefits a poison center provides to its designated region. As we work through social … more
Critically Important: Help Restore State Funding for the Illinos Poison Center Please help by signing an electronic e-letter to Governor Quinn and the IL State Assembly ASAP!
I get asked this a lot when people find out I work for the Illinois Poison Center. There is an intense fascination with the sorts of things that are called into a poison center. These questions come in conversation, e-mail and the internet. As an example, our very first Twitter response was “What is the … more
A Poison Center means different things to different people For a parent, it is a place to call for treatment advice if their child eats, drinks, rubs onto their skin or breathes a potentially harmful substance For a doctor or nurse, it is the place to call for treatment recommendations for potentially poisoned patients in … more
In 2006, I nearly killed my kidneys because I ignored the rule “poisoning in only a matter of dose”. With regards to poisoning, the potentially harmful dose of a medication can be acute meaning too much all at once, or chronic referring too much over an extended period of time. Paracelsus, a 16th century physician … more
How to prevent food poisoning over the holidays: It is 1a.m., a house full of out-of-town holiday guests and to everyone’s dismay, there is a line for the bathroom as several family members suddenly develop vomiting and diarrhea. Not the picture of holiday bliss, especially when mom says it was the turkey, or the cream … more
Check out this video from FoxNews that provides a good summary of the safety of hand sanitizers. While good at killing germs, caution is needed in dispensing to kids. From the story: “It [hand sanitizer] is causing new problems for starters using too much can make kids sick. The biggest risk is that it is … more
