Fort Eustis –
McDonald Army Health Center wants to remind you that National Poison Prevention Week is Sunday to March 20. Poisoning is a leading public health problem, second only to motor vehicle crashes as a leading cause of unintentional injury death.
Know the poisoning facts:
· Each year, more than 2 million poisonings exposures are reported to the nation's poison centers.
· On average, poison centers handle one possible poisoning every 13 seconds.
· More than 70 percent of all poison deaths occur in adults ages 20 to 59.
· Older adults are more likely than others to die from poisonings. These adults account for 5 percent of possible poisonings but for 16 percent of possible deaths.
· More than 50 percent of poisoning exposures involve children under age 6.
· Approximately 90 percent of poisonings occur in people's homes.
· Almost 90 percent of the general public who call a local poison center get the help they need over the telephone without having to go to a doctor or to the hospital.
The nationwide toll-free number for poison control centers, 800-222-1222, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call for assistance with poisoning emergencies, questions about a specific problem, or information about poison prevention. The poison control centers are staffed by nurses, pharmacists, doctors and other poison experts.