FAQs

The Poison Center does not recommend answering questions of this nature. There is the potential for the information you provide  to be used to intentionally harm someone. If asked a question such as this, simply say you are not able to provide this information.  You may refer them to the Poison Center’s emergency phone line at 1-800-222-1222 if necessary.

There is not one answer to this question. It depends on the type of poison, the amount of poison involved, and the age, size, and weight of the victim.

The top five substances involved in poison exposures include:

• Analgesics (Pain Relievers)
• Antidepressants
• Sedatives, Hypnotics, Antipsychotics
• Household Cleaners
• Cosmetics and Personal Care Items

The active ingredient in toothpaste is fluoride. There is not enough fluoride in a tube of toothpaste to cause serious toxicity.  However, ingesting large amounts of toothpaste over a prolonged period of time can result in nausea and vomiting.

If mercury is spilled and not cleaned up, it vaporizes. These fumes are poisonous if inhaled. Any spilled mercury should be cleaned up immediately to prevent vaporization. Call the Poison Center for advice on cleaning up spilled mercury.

Yes! All mouthwash contains alcohol in varying amounts. To a young child, even a small amount of alcohol can be deadly. It is  possible for a child to drink a large amount of mouthwash because it tastes good. Keep all mouthwash and other hygiene  products out of the sight and reach of children in a LOCKED cabinet.

DEET is one of the most common ingredients in insect repellents. DEET is absorbed through the skin. In high concentrations,  DEET can have harmful side effects. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that repellents should contain no  more than 30% DEET when used on children. Insect repellents are not recommended for children younger than 2 months.  Always read the label before using any repellent.

Take the pills to your pharmacist. He/she can identify them for you. If the pharmacist cannot identify the pills, he/she can call the Poison Center.

Yes! Medicine changes over time, leaving it in a toxic or ineffective form. The expiration date is provided for your protection. Never take expired medicine.

Properly dispose of medicines in a take-back location or by following the instructions on the label. To find take-back programs in  your community: visit www.disposemymeds.org, contact your local government’s household trash and recycling service, call your  local non-emergency law enforcement number, or contact the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Poinsettias are not fatal, as commonly thought. If ingested, poinsettias can cause stomach upset and mouth irritation. All plants should be kept out of the reach of children.

Call the Poison Center immediately. Because every poisoning is different, the treatment advice will differ depending on the type  and amount of poison involved, and the age, size, weight, and medical history of the victim.

Activated charcoal is a gritty, unflavored substance that binds to certain poisons to minimize absorption of the poison. The poison is then eliminated through bowel movements. Activated charcoal is used in hospitals. The Poison Center does NOT recommend  using activated charcoal in the home.

A poisoned victim may or may not look, act, or feel sick. If you suspect a poisoning has occurred, call the Poison Center immediately. Do not wait for symptoms.

Syrup of Ipecac is a plant extract that is used to make a person vomit. In 2003, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued  its new guideline on Syrup of Ipecac. The Poison Center is in agreement with the AAP guideline and recommends that Syrup of  Ipecac should no longer be used as a home treatment for poisonings.

From anywhere in the country, you can call the national toll-free poison emergency hotline, 1-800-222-1222. The hotline works on  the same principal as 911. It will automatically and immediately identify the caller’s location and connect the caller to the closest  poison center. The Poison Center also has TTY services for the deaf and hearing impaired and interpreter services for individuals  with limited English proficiency.

At the Minnesota Poison Control System and other poison centers across the country, phones are answered by specially trained  experts – nurses, pharmacists, and doctors. They answer the phones 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days per year.

Yes! The Poison Center can answer most poison-related questions.

Any store specializing in items for infants or children should carry safety locks. In addition, some grocery stores and pharmacies carry safety locks.

In 1970, Congress enacted the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA) (15 U.S.C. §§ 1471-1476) to protect children from  poisonings resulting from the unintentional ingestion of hazardous household substances. The PPPA authorizes the US  Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to require the use of special child-resistant packaging for various drugs and  household products. Child-resistant packaging is defined by the PPPA to be packaging that is “difficult for children under the  age of five to open or obtain a toxic amount within a reasonable time” but “not difficult for normal adults to use properly.” Child-resistant packaging does not mean the packaging is child proof. Some children can open child-resistant containers.

The CPSC revised its child-resistant packaging regulations in 1996 to ensure the packaging is both child-resistant and “adult-friendly.” Now child-resistant packaging is tested with children under the age of five and with adults ages 50-70. A variety of  adult-friendly child-resistant packaging styles are now being used.

The following substances are currently subject to regulation**:

• Aspirin
• Furniture Polish
• Methyl Salicylate (liquid prep. containing more than 5% by weight)
• Controlled Drugs
• Sodium and/or Potassium Hydroxide (granules, powders, flakes)
• Turpentine
• Kindling and/or Illuminating Preparations (lighter fluids, torch fuel)
• Methyl Alcohol (Methanol)
• Sulfuric Acid
• Prescription Drugs
• Ethylene Glycol
• Iron-Containing Drugs
• Dietary Supplements Containing Iron
• Solvents for Paint or Other Similar Surface-Coating Materials
• Acetaminophen
• Diphenhydramine
• Glue Removers Containing Acetonitrile
• Permanent Wave Neutralizers (containing sodium bromate or potassium bromate)
• Ibuprofen
• Loperamide
• Mouthwash containing 3 or more grams of ethanol
• Lidocaine
• Dibucaine
• Naproxen
• Ketoprofen
• Fluoride
• Minoxidil
• Methacrylic Acid
• Over-the-Counter Drug Products
• Hazardous Substances Containing Low-Viscosity Hydrocarbons
• Drugs and Cosmetics Containing Low-Viscosity Hydrocarbons
• Imidazolines

** Because the Commission may add new rules from time to time, we recommend that you check periodically for new or  revised rules in the Code of Federal Regulations.

May an individual request that all of his/her prescriptions be filled in non-child-resistant packaging? Yes. A patient may request  a pharmacist, preferably in writing, to have all of his/her medicines placed in non-child-resistant containers.