Prevention Central

March 15, 2000 marked the 20th anniversary of the West Virginia Poison Center (WVPC.) For the past twenty years the WVPC has been working to prevent poisonings and reduce the number of poison related deaths in West Virginia. The WVPC accomplishes this by both educating the public on the importance of preventing poison exposure, and through treatment instruction in the event of an exposure. A very crucial component of the Poison Centers’ services include poison prevention awareness programs for adults, children, and medical professionals.

The WVPC promotes its poison prevention message through a state-wide volunteer program, instructional presentations, school programs, health fairs and exhibits, newsletters, and press releases. We also promote national poison prevention week campaigns, literature, and the ever popular “Mr.Yuk” warning stickers. Programs and materials are available to schools, day-care centers, community and professional organizations, physicians, medical facilities and families. The following pictures are from various poison prevention programs.

Jackson General Hospital Health Fair 2011
	Carissa McBurney, Community Outreach Coordinator, prepares a booth for the 2011 Jackson General Hospital Health Fair. Photo by Ripley Rotary Club (http://www.ripleyrotary.org/index.php)

Poison Center Poster Contest
	1st Place - Katy Petros Morgantown, West Virginia St. Francis Central Catholic School
	2nd Place - Bradley Anderson Charleston, West Virginia Montrose Elementary School
	3rd Place - Sydney Jett Lumberport, West Virginia Lumberport Elementary School
	Honorable Mention - Alexander Anderson Charleston, West Virginia Montrose Elementary School

Presentation to the Headstart students at Frankford Elementary
	Barry "Scott" Brown, MSIV, delivering a poison prevention presentation to Greenbrier County Headstart students at Frankford Elementary.
	Frankford Elementary Headstart students completing poison prevention activity sheets

WVU School of Pharmacy students teach poison prevention
	Barry "Scott" Brown, MSIV, delivering a poison prevention presentation to Greenbrier County Headstart students at Frankford Elementary.

Fort Ashby Health Fair
	Fort Ashby Health Fair at the fairgrounds in Mineral County on June 3, 2000. Information on various health topics was distributed to participants.

Raleigh General Hospital's Mr. Yuk
	Susie Aboulhosn, Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Raleigh General Hospital frequently appears as Mr. Yuk to communicate poison prevention education to everyone. Susie an be seen at healthc fairs, puppet shows, schools, daycare facilities as well as the halls of Raleigh General Hospital.

Poison Prevention Project WVRHEP Mountain Health Partners Consortium
	Physician Assistant Student, Stacey Murphy, played a game with Mrs. Gaines kindergarten class about safe and unsafe home products; ways to avoid injury; and what to do in case of an emergency.
	WVU Medical Student, Tom McClellan, spoke to Davis elementary students about poisons "When At Play." The students learn things that might be harmful to them such as poison ivy and other plants, spiders and other insects. The students received Mr.Yuk stickers and certificates of achievement signed by Mr. Yuk!
	WVU Medical Student, Tom McClellan, spoke to Davis elementary students about poisons "When At Play." The students learn things that might be harmful to them such as poison ivy and other plants, spiders and other insects. The students received Mr.Yuk stickers and certificates of achievement signed by Mr. Yuk!
	WVU Pharmacy Student, Frankie Tomblin, spoke to the class about how accidental poisonings happen and what to do next. He also stressed to the students not to touch anything that might be harmful. Put it up high!" They talked about where poisons should be stored safely out of reach.

Alum Creek Public Library
	Poison prevention presentation by Andrew Foy, WVU medical student, at Alum Creek Public Library in Lincoln county.

Cub Scout Pack #43: Bear Den, Grade 2 Flatwoods, WV
	The Cub Scouts learned about poison prevention and safety from their Den Leader, Shirley Hyre. The Cub Scouts pictured below from left to right are Dwight Wilson, Cody Carr, and Andrew Bleigh

Career Day at Pinch Elementary
	Pam Chase, CSPI delivered a presentation to the fifth grade students at Pinch Elementary. Pam discussed her job as a specialist in poison information as part of the schools' Career Day activities.

Kelly's Creek Communities Association, Inc.
	Presentation on "The Dangers of Poisons" to Kelly's Creek Communities Association by Charles R. Wheeler.

Hookstown Fair on Child Safety
	First National Bank of New Cumberland sponsored a booth at the Hookstown Fair on Child Safety. Parents stopping by the booth received poison prevention information.