WY Department Of Health And Nebraska Poison Center Issue Poison Advisory For Holiday Season

A reminder that the holidays bring changes in routine and increase the risk of accidental exposure to poisons in the home.

The Nebraska Poison Center would like to offer a few helpful holiday hints.

• Toys may contain button or disc batteries. If swallowed, they can become stuck and cause serious injury or death if not removed. They may come in games, watches, remotes, and musical greeting cards.
• Other toys are brightly colored and fun to play with such as water beads or rare earth magnets, but they are not suitable for persons that may ingest these items. Strong magnets can stick together in the intestines and become a medical emergency. If water beads are swallowed, they may swell and cause a blockage in the intestines.
• Alcoholic beverages are more readily accessible during gatherings. Clean immediately after gatherings and remove all items that may contain alcohol.
• Nicotine containing products include cigarettes, vape liquid, and chewing tobacco and are harmful if ingested. These products may cause shakiness, vomiting or seizures.
• CBD and THC products are often in brightly colored packaging that can easily be mistaken for candy or other food items for children. Keep these away from common areas, locked away and out of reach.
• Cleaning products should also be stored up and out of sight. Do not mix chemicals together when cleaning, and follow all label directions for using these products.
• Encourage visiting friends and family to store medications up, out of sight and locked up tight, not out on a nightstand or counter. Keep all purses and bags secured and locked away.
• Keep small children and animals away from seasonal plants such as mistletoe, holly berries, yew plants and poinsettias.

The holiday season can bring joy and grief simultaneously.

As seasonal calls to the Poison Center increase, so do calls about intentional harm.

If you or a loved one is having thoughts of self-harm or in a crisis, remember you are not alone.

Please call 988, it is a 24/7 National Suicide and Crisis Line for help.

Prevention is the best treatment for poisonings. Poison Center staff are specially trained in poison information and available 24/7/365.

If you have questions or have had an exposure, call 1-800-222-1222.

The Poison Center is a free and confidential service to the public.