The winter holidays usually bring celebrations that include a lot of food and drink. Upstate New York's Poison Center is cautioning residents against common hazards this time of the year.
Public Education Coordinator Lee Livermore says people need to watch out for medicine and food poisoning.
“There is a simple method, keep cold food cold and hot food hot. If there a perishable ingredient where if they are left out over an extended period of time, some bacteria might develop,” said Livermore.
He added that foods and beverages might have reactions with medications as well. In addition to the holidays, the season also can bring an increased risk of exposure to toxins.
“In the winter time we seeing increasing medical calls when the season starts changing. People are changing different products in the household. We see another increase in types of calls when people get together, holidays, vacation, any time that you are in a situation where you get expose to a product,” said Livermore .
He also said our fossil fuel devices in the house are other poisoning risks during winter months. The houses most at risks are the ones with limited ventilation.
“Carbon Monoxide exposure has very similar symptoms as cold and flu season. Somebody might become liturgic, tired, nausea, they might have headache and they want to sleep a lot,” said Livermore
People who experience exposure in any form can call the Poison Center hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-222-1222.
The Centre provides advice to callers and doctors treating a poisoning victim in an emergency room. Advice could include the antidote to a poisonous substance, information about vaping, or reactions to drugs that are abused or misused.
The Upstate New York Poison Center has more tips. Items meant to bring joy, like colorful ornaments, festive refreshments and children's toys, and common medicines, could instead be dangerous.
- If you are traveling for the holidays or having people in your home, be sure to keep suitcases and purses out of the reach of children and pets. Mouthwashes, liquid hand sanitizers, perfumes and colognes may contain alcohol. Even small amounts can affect a child. Personal care products, like toothpaste and soaps, can cause vomiting or diarrhea.
- Keep alcohol, including baking extracts, out of reach and do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended.
- Color additives used in fireplace fires are a toxic product and should be stored out of reach.
- Artificial snow can be harmful if inhaled, so use it in a well-vented space.
- Mistletoe berries, Holly Berry and Jerusalem Cherry can be poisonous. If they are used in decorating, make sure children and pets cannot reach it. Fake berries are a potential choking hazard.
- Eating even small amounts of tobacco products can be harmful causing nausea, vomiting and potentially seizures. Two cigarettes, ingested by a child, can mean a trip to an Emergency Department.
- Many children’s toys, watches, cameras, hearing aids, games and calculators may contain button batteries (flat, coin-like batteries). If eaten, button batteries usually pass through the body in the stool, but sometimes they get stuck in the throat or stomach, which can cause blockage or serious burns.
- Some foil and colored gift-wrap contain lead. Read product labels and do not let pets and children chew on these items.
- Chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Darker chocolate is more harmful than milk chocolate. The chocolate can cause excited behavior, muscle tremors, fast heart beat and even seizures.