West Virginia Poison Center Media Information

As many as 360,000 of the nation's 12M undergraduates in 1991 died from alcohol related causes while in school. As many as 60% of females will get a sexually transmitted disease while under the effect of alcohol.
Long term effects of heavy alcohol use include memory loss and sexual impotence.
College students drink enough alcohol for every college and university to fill an Olympic size swimming pool.
On campuses, alcohol is a factor in 40% of all academic problems, and 28% of all dropouts.
Hangovers are due to poisoning by alcohol.
Overweight? A daily glass of wine can add 10lbs. per year to your weight.
Lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment which can promote risky behavior.

Alcohol Poisoning:	Homemade brews, alcohols, moonshine that could be contaminated.
Alcohol Toxicity:	When too much alcohol content is in the blood level-potentially fatal.
Marijuana + Drinking:	Marijuana is an anti-emetic which reduces the risk of vomiting...leaving the ability to think you can drink more, which in fact could lead to alcohol toxicity because of too much alcohol in the blood level...Potentially fatal.
Binge Drinking:	Putting away at least five drinks at one time in one sitting.

The West Virginia Poison Center would like to offer the following suggestions to help keep you and your family in the spirit of the holidays and out of the hospital! This time of year creates potential for accidental poisonings to happen in your home. If you are expecting guests in your home, or a baby-sitter, you might want to create a chart with this very important information and paste it to your refrigerator or telephone. To receive free WVPC telephone stickers please call 347-1212

                   Residence address
                        Residence phone #
                        Alternate phone #
                        Names, ages, weight of children:
                        Any known illness or allergies:
                        Location of First Aid Supplies:
                        Child's Doctor/Phone #
                        West Virginia Poison Center:   1-800-222-1222
                        Fire Dept/Police Dept.:

    Stay calm, and keep the victim calm
     Look in the mouth and remove any remaining pills, pieces of plants, etc.
     If the victim is a child, call the parents or closest neighbor/relative
     Take the victim and the poisoning substance to the phone and call the poison center
     Be prepared to answer questions (refer to the information above)
     The poison center will direct you on any further steps needed, if any
     Never have the victim vomit on their own without the advice of the Poison Center

Every new year we all make resolutions to help improve ourselves. The top two resolutions made are to quit smoking and lose weight. Fortunately, there are products on the market that can assist us in our goals.

It is up to you, the concerned parent, pet owner and care-giver to be aware of potential poisonings that can occur when these new products are brought into your home.

The West Virginia Poison Center would like to remind you to practice safety when using these products to avoid any accidental poisonings.

Products containing Nicotine:
Gum, Nasal Spray and Inhaler: Use as directed. All can be extremely dangerous to children and pets.

Patch: If more than one used at a time, can be toxic. Attention to disposal is necessary as even a used patch can contain dangerous levels of nicotine.

Hazards of herbal products in overdose are unknown, and should not be assumed to be safe

Don't Let ...Your hobbies hurt someone you love!

The West Virginia Poison Center would like to help you enjoy your hobbies and prevent accidental poisonings.

Soldering, stained glass crafts, oil painting and ceramics: You should be aware that most products used with these crafts contain unacceptable levels of lead.

Photography and Processing Film: Dark room supplies require very little chemicals, but the ones used such as, Photo Flo, contain irritating detergents and photographic stop baths contain acids.

Woodworking and refinishing furniture: Stripping agents, stains, dyes and contact adhesives contain toxic ingredients like toulene in contact adhesive, hydrocarbons in stains and dyes, and methylene chloride in stripping agents, which convert to carbon monoxide in the body.

Inhalation: dust fumes from soldering, aerosol spray cans, paint thinner, and shellacs can cause accidental poisonings.

Ingestion: children biting their nails, storing chemicals/crafts in drinking cups, or spilling on the floor providing easy access for a child or pet. Turpentine can be fatal if swallowed!

Skin Contact: Burns or allergic reactions can result from the briefest contact with certain art materials. Splashing or spraying of chemicals can also be dangerous.

When purchasing supplies, look for "conforms to ASTM-D-4236", this means it has been reviewed by a board-certified toxicologist. Other safety symbols to look for are CP (certified product) and AP (approved product).

POISON IVY, like POISON OAK and POISON SUMAC, contains a toxic oil called urushiol and is poisonous during every season of the year. The oil is so volatile that even the lightest contact can cause a reaction. Even smoke from burning poison ivy leaves can initiate the inflammation. Two misconceptions about poison ivy include that the blistery rash is contagious-this is false. You cannot catch poison ivy from the blistery fluid-poison ivy appears to be spreading, but is actually spreading from exposure at different times or to different parts of the body; and secondly using bleach on your skin or pet does not remove the oil, it will only cause irritation to the affected area. Poison ivy and poison oak are easily identified by their three leaf clusters and their whitish berries. The leaves may be smooth, shiny or dull and may vary in color depending on the season, while poison sumacs have green flowers and the fruit is white similar to poison ivy, the leaf has 7-9 leaflets; the sumacs with large red flowers and fruits are non-poisonous. All parts of poison ivy, poison oak and sumac are poisonous: the toxic oil resides in the stems, leaves, branches, flowers, and berries. Dead ivy, oak and sumac plants still contain the urushiol which can remain active and result in a break out.

Most people develop symptoms 24-48 hours after contact, but due to each individual's sensitivity level, this can vary. The first symptom of poisoning is a severe itching of the skin, later a red inflammation and a blistering of the skin will occur. The rash spreads from exposure to the poisonous oil (sap). If a new area breaks out in a 3 day period, chances are you re-exposing yourself from contaminated clothes, your tools, and even your pet. It is important to de-contaminate any item you were in contact with at the time of your exposure. Most cases of poisoning will last from 5-12 days, while more severe cases can result in hospital visits and treatment and last much longer.

MYTH #1: SILICA GEL
The West Virginia Poison Center receives numerous calls concerning the ingestion of silica gel packets. A mother calls, concerned because her 10-month old daughter has just swallowed a packet, or a concerned pet owner calls in fear for her rottweiler who has just chewed a packet. In fact, silica gel is non-toxic, and will not poison your child or pet. These packets can be a choking hazard, however.

MYTH #2: SUN SCREEN CAUSES BLINDNESS
There has been a rumor circulating the Internet that sun screen will cause blindness. The American Association of Poison Control Centers has not been able to determine how this rumor got started. There is no validity to this statement.

MYTH #3: BLEACH
While it has a nasty odor, and may cause mouth irritation, drinking/swallowing bleach will not kill you. This myth may have originated from long ago when bleach was made from lye, which can be very toxic.

The West Virginia Poison Center receives many calls during the year regarding these substances, as well as many others.

For statistics on these or other substances, please call our educational information number listed at the bottom of the page.

Click here for more information on Jimson Weed.

Jimson weed, also known as: Devil’s apple, Devil’s trumpet, Jamestown weed, Mad-apple, Nightshade, Stinkweed, Stinkwort, Stramonium, Thom-apple, is a potent, hallucinogen which grows wild and is easily accessible to your children. The plant is ingested by making a tea, by smoking, or by eating the plant. Most ingestions are intentional. Since September 1, 1999, about twenty cases have been reported to the West Virginia Poison Center. More are expected. Teenagers from Morgantown, WV to Belle, WV, have been experimenting with this plant for it's hallucinogenic effect.

Toxicity Rating: High. The plant and seeds are extremely toxic. The plant is abused for its hallucinogenic effects.

Jimson weed contains many toxic components, its flowers -- made famous in the paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe -- are large, white, and funnel-shaped. All parts of the plant contain alkaloids, and are toxic. The seeds pose the greatest risk, with alkaloid concentrations believed to be greater than the leaves and stems, with even the nectar being toxic. The weed grows in sunny open areas, and its powerful side effects can include dilated pupils, high temperature, quickened heartbeat, and dry mouth. Depending on how much is eaten, behavior can range from confusion to delirious. Seizures and more significant injury can occur.

Halloween, the night of tricks and treats, has long been a favorite holiday for all ages. This year we would like to remind parents of a few tricks to help prevent unwanted ‘boo-boos’.

When choosing accessories, make sure that face make-up and hair paints are safe for your children. While most products are harmless, exposure by ingestion could cause an unwanted reaction.

Glowsticks, glow necklaces and bracelets, glow eyeglasses, and even mini-mouth sticks are available for your child’s entertainment. These products contain dibutyl phthalate, which is an eye, skin and mucus membrane irritant. Exposure can occur if the child bites on it, or punctures it in any way. Damage to any glowstick product could also happen from a pet biting into it.

Protect your children and pets, (they too can suffer from an exposure). Make sure all items are new and in perfect condition. Should an exposure happen, Call THE WEST VIRGINIA POISON CENTER AT 1-800-222-1222.

CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING:

Childhood lead poisoning is a preventable health problem. Early identification of children with lead poisoning and prevention of continued exposure to lead poisoning is possible by screening the child for blood lead levels. Children less than six (6) years of age are more susceptible to this problem. All children should be screened at one (1) and two (2) years of age. Children at high risk (i.e., those living in houses built before 1960, those whose parents have workplace exposure to lead) should be screened at six (6) months.

Some sources of lead:

Painted surface
• fine lead dust, created when doors, windows or other painted surfaces rub against each other (lead dust may be difficult to see)
• chipped or peeling lead paint

Water
• cooking and drinking water may be contaminated by lead water pipes, plumbing fittings made out of brass or bronze, and lead solder used to connect plumbing

Soil
• the areas where children play can be contaminated by chips and dust from exterior lead paint, and lead pollution that has settled in the soil

Other sources
• dust from renovation
• some porcelain and pottery
• some homemade medicines and cosmetics
• fishing weights, target practice with lead bullets

Preventative Measures:
• Children's toys and hands should be washed frequently
• Test children for blood levels according to the screening protocol
• Have homes tested by a licensed lead inspector
• Cover bare soil with grass or shrubs
• Eating small, frequent meals rich in iron and calcium and low in fat and oils are important in a healthy diet

For more information, call the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Project at 1-800-642-8522, or the West Virginia Poison Center, 1-800-222-1222.

Forty years ago, President John F. Kennedy signed into law, National Poison Prevention Week . The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the dangers of unintentional poisonings and to take preventive measures. As the only poison center in West Virginia, the West Virginia Poison Center (WVPC) is proud to be one of the nationally certified centers by the American Association of Poison Control Centers to participate in this event.

Please help raise the awareness of this life saving service in your community. We are available to all of West Virginia, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Examples of calls the WVPC received last year:
* 29 yr old accidentally ingested grout cleaner stored in a Sprite® bottle
* 4 yr old ingested an unknown amount of atropine containing eye drops
*18 yr old ingests hits of acid
* Pet dog drinks radiator antifreeze

By alerting your readers to our services, they can reach us when an unfortunate poisoning occurs.

We are ready to provide Mr. Yuk stickers, and phone stickers, along with informative brochures on poison prevention.

Call, 304-347-1212 to order your information packet today!

State-wide Emergency: 1-800-222-1222
Educational Information: (304) 347-1212
WVU Charleston Division
3110 MacCorkle Ave., SE, Charleston,WV 25304

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