Calls about poisonings rise 6%
The Utah Poison Control Center responded to more than 57,000 calls last year, a 6 percent increase in calls from 2006, according to the report released this month. More than 60 percent of those involved children under 6.
"Children are naturally curious and orally explore their environment," the report said. "This means that children less than 6 (especially 12 months through 2 years) are particularly at risk for poison exposure."
Part of the problem, according to the report, is that poisonous substances can be look-alikes to common household products — bottled water and rubbing alcohol, fruit drinks and cough medicine, apple juice and beer.
Of the 28,134 calls involving children under 6 last year, cosmetics and personal-care products were the most common causes of poisoning (3,635 calls), followed by household cleaning products (3,213).
More than 85 percent of all exposures occurred in the victim's home, according to the report. Experts said safety precautions help but cannot completely eliminate the risk of exposure.
Almost all exposures in children under 6 were unintentional, compared to just 44 percent of exposures in teenagers. Most accidental exposures in adults involved taking the wrong dose or wrong medication, or exposure to household chemicals, pesticides and automotive products.
Carbon monoxide was the leading cause of accidental poisonings in the United States, according to the report, which recommends alarms be placed in every home.
According to the report, 77 percent of exposures were managed on-site with telephone follow-ups, saving thousands of dollars in hospital stays. Calling poison control saves more than $10,300 — the cost of 3 1/2 days in a hospital, according to the report.
The center, established in 1954, helped develop a poison prevention education program for adults in 2007. The program provides information on contacting the center and medication safety.
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