The Long Island Regional Poison and Drug Information Center at Winthrop-University Hospital issues the following tips to help prevent unintentional poisonings or injuries this holiday season:
FOOD SAFETY
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Wash hands and food preparation surfaces often.
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Wash cutting boards and utensils after each use.
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Keep raw meats away from ready-to-eat foods.
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Cook foods at appropriate temperatures, long enough to kill harmful bacteria.Refrigerate leftovers promptly to keep harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying.
ALCOHOL SAFETY
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Do not drink and drive or allow someone to drink and drive.
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Do not get in a vehicle with someone who has been drinking.
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Discard unfinished alcoholic beverages immediately before children can get to them.
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Store other sources of alcohol, such as mouthwash, aftershaves and colognes, out of childrens reach.
TOY SAFETY
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Buy toys that are age appropriate.
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Small, removable toy parts can be dangerous if trapped in the throat, ears or nose.
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Supervise small children when they play with toys.
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Keep latex balloons out of the reach of children as they can obstruct airways.
DECORATION SAFETY
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Candles contain wax, which is not toxic in small quantities, but chunks can cause choking if swallowed. Candles can also cause fires.
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Keep candles out of childrenís reach.Never keep candles near trees, curtains/drapes or other potentially flammable objects.
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Tree Ornaments can cause choking if swallowed. Broken pieces can cause cuts or abrasions.
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Keep children away from ornaments.
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Use caution when handling ornaments.
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Tree Lights contain small amounts of methylene chloride, which can be toxic if consumed.
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Keep children away from the tree lights.
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Fireplace logs may contain heavy metals. Ingestion of large amounts can be toxic.
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Keep colorful logs out of the reach of children and pets.
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Do not burn other substances than wood in the fireplace.
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Gift-Wrapping Paper may contain toxic metals that can be harmful if swallowed. Supervise children when handling gift-wrapping paper.
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Angel Hair consists of spun glass that can irritate the eyes, skin and digestive tract.
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Wear gloves while decorating.
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Keep out of the reach of children.
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Metallic Icicles/Tinsel, Styrofoam, Artificial Trees may cause irritation to the digestive tract or choking if swallowed.Keep out of the reach of children.
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Artificial Snow can cause injury to the eyes if sprayed directly in the eyes.
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Read labels carefully and follow the warnings.
PLANT SAFETY
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Poinsettia - Ingestion of a leaf is not toxic. The milky sap from the plant can cause dermatitis.
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Holly - Berries are toxic. Ingestion of 20 or more berries can result in death.
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Mistletoe - Berries and leaves are very toxic. Ingestion results in nausea, vomiting, blood pressure changes, seizures and hallucinations.
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Jerusalem cherry -The entire plant is toxic. Ingestion causes diarrhea, headaches, vomiting and nausea.
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Bittersweet - The entire plant is toxic. Eating the unripe berries can cause a slow heart rate, drowsiness and headaches.
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Pines - Pine needles may be toxic if a large amount is consumed. Ingestion of small amounts may cause stomach irritation and choking. A skin rash may result from handling.
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Boxwood - This is commonly used in holiday wreaths and roping. The twigs and leaves are toxic and could result in severe stomach problems, convulsions and respiratory failure.
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Evergreens - If a large amount is ingested the toxic oil can cause stomach irritation.
GENERAL TIPS
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Store all potentially harmful substances out of the reach of children and pets.Choose decorations and plants wisely.
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Please contact the Long Island Regional Poison and Drug Information Center at (800) 222-1222 or (516) 663-2650 for poisoning emergencies and poison-related information. For more poison prevention information, log onto www.lirpdic.org.
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Syosset Hospital doctor performs 1,000th Lap-Band procedure Dr. Alan Geiss has been at the forefront of helping morbidly obese patients reduce using Lap-Band technology. Recently, he celebrated his 1,000th surgery using the technique at Syosset Hospital.
