Summer in bloom—is it toxic?
Midwesterners wait all year for summer—and now it’s in full swing! Before you embrace what nature has to offer, check out our list of what’s harmless and what should only be admired from afar!
Cannabis 101: Unintended consequences of unintentional exposures in youngsters
Who wants chocolate, candy, cookies and brownies? Most toddlers enjoy sweet treats, and consider them a sign of good times ahead. Yet, with the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis products in Illinois, as of Jan. 1, there is in increased risk of unintentional exposure for young children, especially with edible cannabis products that are commonly … more
Winter Holiday Plants—Are they toxic?
Welcome to the third installment of our “Is it toxic?” plant blog series. Since there aren’t too many winter plants blooming outside in Illinois this time of year, we will be focusing on indoor holiday plants. While plant and berry ingestions are more commonly reported to the IPC in spring, summer and early fall, we … more
Toxic things that masquerade as the flu
It’s fast approaching, so don’t be fooled! No, we’re not talking about the Halloween ghost and ghouls, but rather that haunting flu, with the undesirable symptoms which include: headache, cough, muscle aches, foggy brain, and nausea. While experiencing these symptoms, it may seem like you have the flu. However, consider these other … more
Fall in bloom—is it toxic?
The weather in Illinois is getting cooler (much to my personal delight), and while some of the familiar summer blooms are fading away, mother nature has a whole new act for autumn. Some of the more classic toxic plants are in their prime this time of year. Very Toxic: If someone has swallowed any of … more
Botany, Bugs and Blisters . . . Oh My!
Summertime in Illinois is a great time of year with families traveling for weekend getaways, hiking, camping, fishing and a host of other outdoor activities. Depending on where you go and where you stay, there may be bugs and plants that can leave their mark on you. Here are some of the plants and insects in … more
Uh Oh! I shouldn’t have put that . . . in my mouth (part 3). . . Pediatric summertime ingestions, the not-so-good, the bad and the ugly
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
Uh Oh! I shouldn’t have put that…in my mouth! (part 2 of 3)
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
Spring in bloom—is it toxic?
The weather is getting warmer, the butterflies are out in full force and peeks of green are appearing in Illinois after a long, cold winter. One of the things spring brings to the IPC is an increase in exposures to plants. Usually, it’s a child who tasted a colorful flower or sampled a tasty-looking berry; … more
Uh oh! I shouldn’t have put that…in my mouth! (part 1)
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
Button Batteries: holiday injury risk
The holidays are just around the corner and growing up as a kid the best toys were always the ones requiring batteries. Batteries can be a significant hazard as they are found in every household and the caustic material inside of the battery can lead to burns. But not all batteries are created equally, and … more
Breaking Tox: The Toxicology of Breaking Bad Part II
In the first part of this two part series, we discussed what I would argue is the true star of Breaking Bad, methamphetamine (meth). In Part 2, I hope to show that while Walter White was supposedly an expert chemist, he was also well-versed in the field of Toxicology! Phosphine Gas In the pilot episode, … more
Crazy Fish Stories: Sometimes an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure
“Illinois Poison Center, How may I help you?” Nurses, pharmacists and physicians in our call center repeat this more than 200 times a day.IPC calls can vary from a mom with “I am not sure if this is an emergency, but . . .” to a nurse or physician with “I have a 23-year-old male … more
Breaking Tox: The Toxicology of Breaking Bad Part I
Recently, I saw a headline that made my mouth drop: It’s been 10 years since the debut of what many consider to be the greatest television drama of all time, Breaking Bad! Since becoming a specialist here at the Illinois Poison Center, I’ve developed a newfound appreciation for the series because of the central role … more
You won’t believe…A Day in the Life of a Poison Center!
Your emergency department patient ingested an unknown amount of an unidentified over-the-counter analgesic. Your toddler took a bite out of your deodorant stick. You accidentally took your mother’s heart medication instead of your allergy medicine. Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! Oops, wrong blog. Let’s try that again. Who you gonna call? The Illinois Poison Center … more
Done over by the flu? Don’t overdo it with acetaminophen!
While the flu always has the potential to be deadly, you may not know about a hidden danger lurking in your medicine cabinet, especially during cold and flu season: acetaminophen (Tylenol). Acetaminophen is a common drug for treating flu symptoms, like fever and chills, muscle and body aches, headaches, and sore throats. Acetaminophen, however, can’t … more
Lose Harmful Bacteria—Not Your Appetite—This Holiday Season
‘Tis the season for family, friends, fun, and . . . food poisoning (ewww). For some unfortunate merrymakers, holiday feasts will start in the dining room and end in the bathroom. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that every year, more than 76 million people fall victim to a foodborne illness. … more
Halloween: Scary for Kids, Even Scarier for Pets
Halloween is a real treat for humans, but not so much for our pets. Did you know that chocolate is toxic to all mammals, but only dogs will eat a potentially fatal amount? The darker the chocolate, the worse it is for a dog, since milk chocolate and white chocolate are diluted with other ingredients.
Water-Related Illness: Chemicals and Germs in the Pool
With Labor Day quickly approaching, many families will enjoy one last poolside outing before summer ends. Unfortunately for nervous swimmers, while the iconic music from the 1975 film Jaws can be unnerving, giant human-eating sharks aren’t the only things to worry about when heading out for a dip. In the past couple of years, the … more
A Holiday Cocktail to Avoid – Alcohol and Prescription Medications
‘Tis the season to be jolly—but mixing alcohol and certain prescription medications is no laughing matter. The holiday season brings an abundance of parties with family and friends and very often a few glasses of liquid cheer. With higher alcohol consumption rates during the holiday season and an increasing number of people using multiple prescription … more
Day in the life of a Poison Center: 11pm-11:59pm
A 38 year old woman got out of the shower, did not have her glasses on and reached for her aerosol spray deodorant but instead used Scrubbing Bubbles. A 23 year old female was brought to the ER after confessing to her mother that she had ingested several handfuls of her medication.
Day in the life of a Poison Center: 10pm-11pm
A 2 year old ingested an unknown amount of moisturizing body butter. A father called; when he went to check on his sleeping 11 month old son on his way to bed, he found that the baby had pulled off his diaper and eaten some of the absorbent diaper material inside.
Day in the life of a Poison Center: 9pm-10pm
A woman called because she had reached into her bathroom cabinet in the dark for a tube of personal lubricant and accidentally used toothpaste instead. A 5 year old ingested up to 10 of his own Singulair.
Day in the life of a Poison Center: 8pm-9pm
An ER called requesting treatment advice regarding a 26 year old intoxicated male who was bit by his pet rattlesnake on the neck. He was showing off the snake to his friends at a party and placed it around his neck. A father called after cooking tater tots in the oven; after his kids ate … more
Day in the life of a Poison Center: 7pm-8pm
An ER called requesting treatment advice regarding a 74 year old female ingested unknown amount of diltiazem and metformin A 4 year old inadvertently brushed his teeth with Bengay muscle rub instead of toothpaste.