Greater Fort Myers Chamber Of Commerce: Posioning Deaths Are Preventable

Press release from Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce:

2022-03-03

THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF
INJURY DEATHS IS POSIONING

Poisonings are preventable. But, adults tend to underestimate their risk. Most people don’t realize how common accidental poisonings are. Every March for over 60 years, poison control centers in the United States have celebrated National Poison Prevention week (March 20-26, 2022). Poisonings in the U.S. are at record highs and adults and young adults are at greatest risk.

Why are poisonings the most common cause of injury death? Three factors may be responsible:

1. Most adults now take multiple medicines to control high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic pain may be dangerous if mixed with alcohol or taken with common over-the-counter medicines. Herbal supplements can also complicate matters as they may also have side effects or cause interactions.

2. Many people may not recognize a poisoning when it happens. A “poisoning” is defined as an exposure to a substance that can harm you, whether by mouth, by skin contact, or as a bite or sting. A recent study in Miami-Dade County estimated that only 15 percent of adults knew there was a phone number to call about a poisoning; this compares to about 50 percent of adults nationally. Poison control centers around the country answer the 1-800-222-1222 hotline 24 hours, seven days a week. The service is provided by doctors, nurses, and pharmacists and are available to everyone, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

3. Sometimes people are afraid to get help. These days, many serious poisonings involve addictive medications and witnesses worry they may get in trouble for calling for help, especially if the injured person took medicine that wasn’t prescribed to them. Florida laws have changed to protect “Good Samaritans” who get help for people who have overdosed. Calls to poison centers are fully confidential, even if the call involves a child. Sometimes a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

Poisonings are preventable if we can care for ourselves and each other by taking precautions with medications and getting help immediately. Enter the 1800-222-1222 poison control hotline in your phone as a contact–or you can text “poison” to 797979. Information for this article was provided by Wendy Stephan, Florida Poison Information Center, Miami. For more information or to invite the poison center to your church, school, or organization, please call the poison control hotline or visit www.floridapoisoncontrol.org. Save the number; save a life.

The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition serves as a collaborative effort or partnership whose function is to facilitate partners’ work and act as a catalyst for injury prevention initiatives. Its mission is to prevent injury, disability, and death through advocacy, education, legislation, and partnerships.

Additional information about the Injury Prevention Coalition or poison control may contact Brian Raimondo at ipcleecounty@gmail.com or 239-330-2240.

This press release was produced by Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.