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Poison Experts Offer Safety Tips for the Holidays

The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System offers some simple but important safety tips for the season.

As families gear up for the holidays, the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System is reminding residents to be aware of potentially dangerous holiday mishaps.

Read through for information on everything from potentially poisonous plants to food and fireplace safety, provided by poison experts at NJPIE. Enter the poison control emergency number into the family's cell phones, and always keep it handy: 1-800-222-1222. The hotline is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Alcohol:  If accidentally swallowed by children and/or pets, leftover cocktails can be fatal! Always empty beverage glasses and place them out of reach of curious children and pets.

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Medicines:  Be sure to keep a safe, locked place for relatives and holiday visitors to store any medications they may be carrying with them. Never leave any medications in purses, nightstands, or in the bathroom where they are accessible to children.

Toy safety: Be cautious of antique or foreign-made toys, which may contain lead and be hazardous to children. For more toy safety information, call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772.

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Candles: Place candles in secure areas where they cannot fall or be knocked over by children and pets. Use non-flammable holders and remember that small amounts of melted wax can become a choking hazard to small children.

Button batteries and magnets: These items are easy to swallow and can cause serious harm to children and pets. If ingested, button batteries can get stuck in the throat or stomach causing serious burns. If two or more magnets are ingested, they can attract one another internally, resulting in serious damage to the stomach or intestines.

Holiday plants: Many plants can be potentially harmful if eaten or handled improperly so decorate for the holiday season using non-poisonous plants if possible. Holiday plants which can produce some toxic effects, mainly gastrointestinal, include Holly, Jerusalem Cherry, Mistletoe, Boxwood and a variety of species of the Yew. Contrary to popular belief, Poinsettias are not considered toxic when consumed in small amounts. Call the NJ Poison Experts at 1-800-222-1222 to find out what other plants are considered to be toxic.

Fire salts: Attractive when added to fires for the colorful flames they produce, these salts can produce serious stomach problems if ingested. They need to be kept out of reach of children.

Tree ornaments: Ornaments resembling foods are as attractive as the real thing. A child or a dog may think a fake apple or cookie looks appetizing and attempt to eat it. If eaten, they can cause problems, so avoid using them for decoration.

Lamp oils: Lamp oils pose serious danger. Children are often confused by these oils because they look just like a beverage. If ingested, the oils can get into the lungs and cause pneumonia and even death. Many of the lamps containing these oils are not child-resistant and must be kept away from children and pets. When not in use, store the lamps and extra oils, the same way you would store any chemical – lock them up and keep them out of the reach of children.

Wrapping paper: DO NOT burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. The paper may contain toxic metals like lead, may burn at such a high temperature that they may prove dangerous to the fireplace or may flake and send sparks out into the room, potentially causing a fire.

Pets: Make sure to keep chocolate, alcohol and drugs and medicines out of reach of your pets. Ingestion of any of these can cause serious harm and even death. Be sure to keep all wires tucked away.

Cigars and cigarettes: Empty all ashtrays after your holiday gathering. Children and pets have been known to eat cigars and cigarette butts. There is enough nicotine in these tobacco products to be considered poisonous to children and pets.

Food: All foods should be prepared and cooked properly to avoid food poisoning. Food poisoning usually occurs two to six hours after eating the contaminated food and can include nausea, fever, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Depending on the exact type of food poisoning, how your body reacts to the toxin and the amount of contaminated food that was eaten, symptoms may last from several hours to two or three days.

Fireplace: Have chimneys and flues inspected by a professional before each heating season. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that poses a serious health concern. Carbon monoxide poisoning is often referred to as the “Silent Killer.”


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