NJ Poison Control Issues Tips for Memorial Day

Editor's Note: The following information is a press release from the NJ Poison Center.

Picnics, camping and barbequing make the list of fun holiday activities for this Memorial Day weekend. Now that the warm weather is upon us, it is time to freshen up on our summer safety tips.

“Although summer is a time to kick back and enjoy ourselves, we must not forget the potential dangers that can occur during the summer months,” said Dr. Steven Marcus, Executive and Medical Director of the NJ Poison Control Center.

From barbeques to gardening, from opening pools to yard cleanup, the NJ Poison Experts are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year to help in the event of an emergency or with any concerns.   

Food (Any food made with mayonnaise or egg, meat, poultry, fish, seafood, etc.)

• Cold foods should be kept refrigerated when not being served. 
• Do Not Cross-Contaminate!  Cooked foods should not be placed on any unwashed plates/containers that previously held raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.
• Always wash hands and counters before preparing food.  Use clean utensils for cooking and serving.
• Do not let food sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

Medication (prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, dietary)

• When friends and family visit, make sure all of their medications are kept out of reach of children and pets (such medications are preferably locked up).
• Lock up all medicines – (prescription and non-prescription) – children and teens die every year because adults (parents, guardians, grandparents, etc) fail to realize the danger of keeping medicines in non-secure medicine cabinets, closets and drawers.
• Since many teens like to experiment with prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications to get high, lock up all medications even if there are no toddlers living in the home.   
• Safely dispose of any unused and/or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications in the home.  Remind the seniors in your lives to do the same. Drop-off sites are available in NJ where these medications can be properly disposed of.  Call the NJ Poison Experts at 1-800-222-1222 for local drop-off site near you.
• Use caution in that some drinks may interact with medications.  Check with your pharmacist or the Poison Control Center to find out if an interaction may occur.  Some medications can greatly increase the chance for severe sunburn.

Chemicals (pool products, pesticides, fertilizers, lamp oil, kerosene, lighter fluids, automotive fluids, etc.)

• Jugs containing lamp oil MUST be stored in locked cabinets away from food and drinks. Lamp oil refill bottles closely resemble juice containers.  It is difficult to pour the liquid directly from the bottle into the torch and frequently the user pours the liquid into a plastic or paper cup in order to then transfer it into the torch. This leaves a cup with what appears to be lemonade or apple juice sitting in it, a dangerous invitation to disaster!  When accidentally taken by mouth, such lamp oils can enter the lungs causing pneumonia and death. 
• Read the directions on the label before using.
• Keep locked up and up high and out of reach of children and pets.
• Store in the product’s original, clearly-marked container. Always use child-resistant caps.
• Store chemicals in a cool, dry, well ventilated area with a locked entry. 
• Always choose the right pesticide for the job at hand.

• Do Not apply products on a windy day.
• Wear protective clothing, masks, eye protection when applying chemicals.  Wash clothes, footwear or any exposed skin that comes in contact with chemicals.

Spring/Summer Cleaning

• Good ventilation is the key to getting harsh fumes from cleaning products out of the house.  Simply opening a window is not enough to eliminate dangerous fumes or odors.  You may want to use an exhaust fan to eliminate the fumes and to circulate fresh air into the area you are cleaning.
• Test your carbon monoxide & smoke detectors to make sure they are working.
• Do Not mix products –combining products can produce toxic fumes.
• Clean when children and pets are not present. Keep products locked up and clean up all spills immediately and thoroughly.
• Make sure to properly discard medicines that are not being used.  Check expiration dates frequently on all over-the-counter and prescription medications kept in the home. Recent recommendations include combining expired or leftover medicines with used coffee grounds, kitty litter, or something else bad-tasting to children and animals. Place this in a coffee can with a lid, and discard with your household trash.

Backyard Safety

• Know the name of plants and flowers in and around your home, including your yard and garden.
• Be alert to insects that may bite or sting. 
• Make sure all gardening, lawn care products, and pool products are stored in locked cabinets.
• Do Not pick plants/mushrooms to eat from your backyard or fields.  Even experts are often fooled by look-alikes which are toxic.

Safe Grilling

• Store charcoal lighter fluid in locked cabinets, out of sight and reach of children and pets.  Swallowing lighter fluid can lead to serious poisoning. 
• When taking cooked food off the grill, do not put it back on the same plate that held raw food.
• Turn meats over at least once to cook evenly.

Sun Exposure  

• Avoid sunburn by limiting time spent in the sun especially when the sun is the strongest (from 10 am to 2 pm).
• Wear clothing to cover exposed skin (long-sleeve shirts, pants, hats, and sunglasses) and regularly apply sunscreen with a broad spectrum SPF of 15 or higher.
• Use caution in the sun because some medications can greatly increase the chance for severe sunburn even when using sunscreen.

Insect Repellant/Mosquitoes

• Apply 10% to 35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) containing insect repellant to exposed skin, clothes, sleeping bags, tents, etc. when taking part in outdoor activities. DEET is available in many formulations including lotions, solutions, creams, gels, sprays, and towelettes.
• Insect repellants are NOT suggested for use on very young children (< 3 years old). Avoid applying repellants to broken skin or wounds.
• Do not spray insect repellants on the face since they may irritate the eyes and mouth.  Instead, spray onto hands and then rub onto the face.
• Wear long-sleeved, loose-fitting shirts and long pants. Pants should be tucked into socks or boot tops to help insects from reaching the skin.
• Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Eliminate standing water that collects in birdbaths, buckets and containers, old tires, unused pools and roof gutters.  Standing water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Call the NJ Poison Experts at 1-800-222-1222 if you suspect a poisoning. The NJ Poison Experts are always here to help with accidents or questions involving medicines, chemicals or household products, etc.