Holidays

Family, friends and food are just some of the ways people give thanks during this national holiday.  So, you don’t want to serve your turkey with a side of poisoning.  While food borne illness is one of the major concerns, we have several items that trigger calls to Poison Control Centers.  Following a few safety tips will help you have a happy healthy holiday.

Thawing Turkey – Raw turkey should be stored in the freezer until you are ready to thaw it. Make sure your freezer is at 0˚F or below.  When a turkey is frozen, it is safe from bacteria growth.  As soon as it starts to thaw, bacteria can start to grow.  The danger zone is between 40° and 140° when bacteria can multiply rapidly.  The safest thawing option is in your refrigerator, but this will take several days.  The National Turkey Federation suggest using the following to safely thaw your turkey.

🦃20 – 24 lbs. – Move to fridge Friday before Thanksgiving.

🦃16 – 20 lbs. – Move to fridge Saturday before Thanksgiving.

🦃12 – 16 lbs. – Move to fridge Sunday before Thanksgiving.

🦃04 – 12 lbs. – Move to fridge Monday before Thanksgiving.

Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter.

Food preparation – Remember the 4 Cs when preparing your Thanksgiving feast: cleaning, cooking, cross contamination and chilling.

👐Cleaning – The CDC recommends regularly cleaning work surfaces, chopping boards and knives.  You should clean the work area before you start and regularly during food preparation.  Wash your hands continually during the process.

⬅️ ➡️Cross Contamination – This occurs when bacteria are transferred from one item to another.  This could happen if you touch raw meat and proceed to cut vegetables without washing your hands.  Use different utensils, chopping boards and work surfaces for cooked and uncooked food.  Wash food-contact surfaces regularly and your hands regularly.  Do not rinse your turkey or raw meat.  This can spread harmful bacteria to other foods, utensils and surfaces.

🥘Cooking – Time and temperature are the keys to ensuring the food you cook is safe to eat.  The correct temperature and right length of time will ensure harmful bacteria are killed.  The internal temperature of turkey and stuffing needs to be 165°.  Temperature needs to be checked using a cooking thermometer.

🧊Chilling – It is important to keep food at the optimal temperature until it is time to serve to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.  Keep your refrigerator at 40° or below and your freezer at 0°.  Food should be prepared no more than 2 days in advance of your feast.  Store food items in individual containers.

Serving – As a general rule, food should not be left out for more than 2 hours.  Hot food needs to be kept above 140° and cold food below 40°.  Food should be put away as quickly as possible after the meal with the goal of keeping food at out for the least amount of time possible.

Alcohol Safety during the Holidays – Alcohol can be very dangerous for small children and pets. 3oz of hard liquor can potentially be fatal to a small child. The symptoms may be mild, such as dizziness and nausea and can lead to serious complications, such as vomiting, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, coma and death. Supervise kids at parties and dispose of leftover drinks promptly.

Leftovers – Most Thanksgiving leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days if refrigerated at the proper temperature.  If you have more food than you can eat through the Thanksgiving weekend, freezing is a good option.  Freeze food in airtight containers to prevent freezer burn. If you suspect the food has started to spoil, throw it away. As the saying goes, when in doubt, throw it out.

December is the season of giving, fellowship and peace on earth.  Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza or Festivus for the rest of us, there is one thing all celebrations have in common: poison hazards.  We want everyone to be merry, festive and bright this year, so take a minute to practice poison prevention, so we can all have a safe holiday season.

🎀Button Batteries:  Perhaps at first glance, button batteries in remote controls, singing cards, small toys or watches don’t seem like anything to worry about. However, if a small child swallows one, puts one in his ear or her nose, it can cause serious injury. Do not leave button batteries where a small child can reach or with a product that allows easy access to the button battery.

Most of the time, a small battery that has been accidentally swallowed, passes through the body with no harm. However, sometimes the battery can get stuck in the body, and cause tissue damage and even require surgery to remove.

If a child has swallowed a button battery or has stuck one in his/her ear or nose, it’s important to call the Poison Help line immediately, 1-800-222-1222.

🎀Traveling with medicine — It is important to continue to take your medications as prescribed even when traveling for the holidays. Plan ahead and use these medication safety tips to help keep you and your family safe:

• Keep medication in the original containers.
• Avoid sharing medications with others.
• Keep all medications up and away, out of children’s reach.
• Do not store medications in purses or suitcases.
• Continue to follow storage temperature recommendations.
• Keep an up-to-date list of all your medications including supplements and over the counter medications.

🎀THC edibles –Marijuana/Cannabis:  In addition to the usual holiday hazards, keep in mind that guests may bring medical (or illicit) marijuana with them. Products derived from cannabis may include dried flowers, edibles, concentrated oils or “butters”, lozenges or infused drinks. All products that contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can be dangerous for small children or pets in large doses. Edible gummies are particularly appealing and are the form of cannabis most commonly associated with serious poisonings. Ask family and friends to keep all THC products locked out of sight.

🎀 Decorations, bubble lights, fake snow, snow globes: Some holiday decorations can contain hazardous substances. Old “bubble lights” may contain methylene chloride and snow globes can contain anti-freeze. If anyone nibbles on the décor, give us a call to assess their risk right away.

🎀 Small objects, magnets, water beads – Be aware that small objects like magnets and water beads are dangerous choking hazards and can cause serious injury or death if swallowed.

• Small Objects: Keep all small toys and other choking hazards out of reach of children. If a child has swallowed a small object, get medical help immediately. If you notice a child is choking or having trouble breathing, call 911.
• Magnets: Magnetic construction toys are a popular gift.  However, if a single magnet is ingested, it might be drawn to metal objects outside the child’s body causing tissue damage. Multiple magnets can cause significant damage to the intestine leading to a medical emergency.
• Water beads: These colorful beads are very absorbent and can significantly expand in size when placed in water.  Although water beads are non-toxic, they can lead to obstruction if ingested, inhaled or inserted into ear or nose. This can lead to life-threatening intestinal blockage.

🎀 Holiday Plants ­­- Holiday plants, including Poinsettia, Holly, and Mistletoe, may serve as pretty decorations.  Though they are relatively non-toxic, they are still not meant to be eaten. Don’t let small children play with these plants. Accidental ingestion by children usually only leads to minor skin or mouth irritation and upset stomachs.

🎀Food poisoning – Remember the 4 Cs when preparing your holiday feast: cleaning, cooking, cross contamination and chilling.

     👐Cleaning – The CDC recommends regularly cleaning work surfaces, chopping boards and knives.  You should clean the work area before you start and regularly during food preparation.  Wash your hands  continually during the process.

     ⬅️ ➡️Cross Contamination – This occurs when bacteria are transferred from one item to another. This could happen if you touch raw meat and proceed to cut vegetables without washing your hands. Use different utensils, chopping boards and work surfaces for cooked and uncooked food. Wash food-contact surfaces and your hands regularly.  Do not rinse your turkey or raw meat.  This can spread harmful bacteria to other foods, utensils and surfaces.

     🥘Cooking – Time and temperature are the keys to ensuring the food you cook is safe to eat. The correct temperature and right length of time will ensure harmful bacteria are killed. Temperature needs to be checked using a cooking thermometer.

     🧊Chilling –It is important to keep food at the optimal temperature until it is time to serve to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Keep your refrigerator at 40° or below and your freezer at 0°.  Food should be prepared no more than 2 days in advance of your feast. Store food items in individual containers.

     🥄Serving – As a general rule, food should not be left out for more than 2 hours. Hot food needs to be kept above 140° and cold food below 40°. Food should be put away as quickly as possible after the meal with the goal of keeping food out for the least amount of time possible.

     🥡Leftovers – Most holiday leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days if refrigerated at the proper temperature.  If you have more food than you can eat in the next few days, freezing is a good option. Freeze food in airtight containers to prevent freezer burn. If you suspect the food has started to spoil, throw it away. As the saying goes, when in doubt, throw it out.

🎀 Alcohol Safety – Alcohol plays a central role in many celebrations and  major holidays across the U.S. Alcohol is especially dangerous to small children and can cause a severe drop in blood sugar.  Do not leave drinks unattended where children have access.  Adults can get caught up in the revelry of holidays parties and get overserved.

     Factors that influence alcohol poisoning are:

• How much the person has eaten.
• The percentage of alcohol in the drink.
• How fast the drink is consumed.
• How many drinks are consumed.
• How the individual processes alcohol.
• Mixing alcohol with some medications.

     How to recognize alcohol poisoning:

• The person cannot stay awake or does not wake up.
• Breathing slowly.
• Cool and/or clammy skin.
• Frequent vomiting.

     What to do:

• Do not let someone sleep off their inebriation.
• Have the person lay on their side to prevent choking on their vomit.
• Stay with the person.
• Keep them warm.
• Immediately Call Poison Control – 1-800-222-1222.
• Call 911 if the person is unconscious.

🎀Keeping Pets Safe — Pets can also be curious about holiday decorations. Keep pets away from cut Christmas trees and the water they stand in, and keep those stockings full of chocolates out of reach of the family dog.  For more information on holiday pet safety, visit https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/holiday-pet-dangers/.

 

❤️🌹🥂Valentine’s Day can be a romantic and magical time to celebrate with someone special. However, the flowers, foods and fragrances can turn a lovely evening into toxic trouble if you aren’t careful. Here are a few poison prevention ideas to keep your special day safe.

🎁Babysitter – Before leaving for a romantic evening, make sure to give the babysitter the Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222. All calls are answered by medical professionals certified as Specialists in Poison Information. All calls are free and completely confidential.

🌹Flowers – A bouquet of flowers is a traditional way to share your love on this special day. However, the wrong foliage can create toxic trouble for your pets. Lilies are highly toxic to cats and can cause life-threatening kidney failure. Other common flowers toxic to pets include tulips, ranunculus, chrysanthemums, gardenias, amaryllis, and carnations. Examine your bouquet and dispose of any of these flowers so your pets can’t eat them. Roses are non-toxic, but their thorns can cause injuries to a curious pet’s mouth and paws.

🐶🐱Pets – Chocolate is potentially life-threatening when ingested by pets. Some of the stimulants in chocolate can impact gastrointestinal, neurologic and cardiac function. Pets can display vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and elevated heart rate if they get into your box of chocolates. Also, don’t let pets near treats sweetened with xylitol. When ingested, gum, candy and other treats with xylitol can result in hypoglycemia (a sudden drop in blood sugar). This can cause your pet to suffer depression, loss of coordination and life-threatening seizures.

💌Button Batteries –  At first glance, button batteries in musical Valentine’s cards don’t seem dangerous. However, if a small child swallows one or puts one in his ear or her nose, it can cause serious injury. Do not leave button batteries where a small child can reach them or with a card or toy that allows easy access to the button battery.

Most of the time, a small battery accidentally swallowed passes through the body with no harm. However, sometimes the battery can get stuck and cause tissue damage and require surgery to be removed.

If a child has swallowed a button battery or has stuck one in his/her ear or nose, call the Poison Help line immediately: 1-800-222-1222.

💊Supplements – Poison centers get calls about herbal supplements all year, but Valentine’s Day can cause some people to experiment with supplements they don’t usually take. Supplements aimed at improving sexual performance for men can sometimes contain illicit prescription drugs (like sildenafil) unsafe for men with heart conditions, for example. Taking these drugs without a doctor’s approval can lead to serious harm. If you have any questions about the safety of any supplement, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 and we can check if there are drug interactions or recent recalls.

🍫THC edibles – Marijuana/Cannabis: Products derived from cannabis may include dried flowers, edibles, concentrated oils or “butters”, lozenges or infused drinks. All products that contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can be dangerous in large doses for small children and/or pets. Edible gummies are particularly appealing and are the form of cannabis most commonly associated with serious poisonings. Ask family and friends to keep all THC products locked up and out of sight.

🍷Alcohol Safety – Alcohol may play a central role in Valentine’s Day celebrations. Alcohol is especially dangerous to small children and can cause a severe drop in blood sugar. Do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended where children have access. Adults can get caught up in the revelry and get overserved.

     Factors that influence alcohol poisoning are:

• How much the person has eaten
• The percentage of alcohol in the drink
• How fast the drink is consumed
• How many drinks are consumed
• How the individual processes alcohol
• Mixing alcohol with some medications

     How to recognize alcohol poisoning:

• The person cannot stay awake or does not wake up
• Breathing slowly
• Cool and/or clammy skin
• Frequent vomiting

     What to do:

• Do not let someone sleep off their inebriation
• Have the person lay on their side to prevent choking on their vomit
• Stay with the person
• Keep them warm
• Call Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222, for questions or concerns
• Call 911 if the person is unconscious

 

When most people think of Halloween poison hazards, candy is usually top of mind.  Rumors of poisoned candy have long been debunked.  Parents still need to check candy, but there are other issues that need top attention as well.

Candy Safety:  When checking candy, make sure nothing is open or spoiled.  Also, make sure someone didn’t accidentally drop a THC (marijuana) edible into your child’s Halloween bag.  Edibles may look like common treats like candy, baked goods. The label should include a “THC!” or marijuana leaf image  or language such as “Delta-8”, “Delta-10” or “THC-O”.  If you’re unsure follow a simple rule:  When in doubt, throw it out!

Glow Sticks: More than likely, it’ll be dark when it’s time to go trick-or-treating, so glow sticks will be a great addition for the night. Remind children not to chew on glow sticks or break them open. Although the liquid is not highly toxic in small amounts, it contains dibutyl phthalate that can potentially cause skin irritation.  If the oily liquid gets on the skin or in the mouth, it can cause irritation, rinse it off immediately. If it splashes in the eyes, it can cause severe irritation and burning. Rinse the affected eye with running tap water immediately and call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Make Up/Face Paint: What is Halloween without disguising your face?  Before putting make-up or face paint on a child, it is best to test it (like the inside of the arm).  The use of food coloring or colors not intended for the skin should be avoided.  These can cause irritation and be difficult to wash off.  Just as important as using the right cosmetics or face paint to avoid skin irritation is to thoroughly wash off all of the colors, powders, lip colors and any glitter before going to bed. This will help prevent skin break outs or rashes.

Choking Hazards: We know the kids are excited to eat and play with the goodies they bring home from trick-or-treating.  Parents should be mindful of choking hazards.  Some examples of choking hazards are peanuts, gum, hard candies, small toys, and small erasers.

Button Batteries: As you make safety a top priority, you might include a flashlight, in addition to glow sticks. Keep in mind that small flashlights, costume accessories and holiday cards may contain button batteries. Button batteries can lead to severe tissue damage if ingested. If you suspect someone has ingested a button battery, do not force them to vomit, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.