Every month, we post a new article covering the latest trends and updates on harmful substances. We share information and safety tips on trending poison topics so that you and your family will know how to avoid these harmful substances and know what to do if you encounter them.
Wild mushroom hunting is a popular hobby. Mushroom identification is tricky. Toxic and nontoxic mushrooms can grow side by side, and many mushrooms that can make you sick look just like edible mushrooms. Our best advice is to NEVER pick and eat wild mushrooms unless they’ve been identified by an expert.
Novel forms of vaping have hit YouTube and internet forums. “Dripping” is one such method. With traditional vaping, the “juice” passes through a filter where some of it gets trapped before each inhalation. With dripping, the filter is bypassed and a few drops of the “juice” are dripped directly onto the heated coils or atomizer of the device which produces a thicker vapor cloud.
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle and is widely sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement in the United States. Although often used to promote sleep in both children and adults, melatonin is regulated differently than prescription medicines, which raises concerns about product quality,…
With names like K2, Spice, Bliss, Cloud Nine, and hundreds of others, the drugs often called "synthetic marijuana", are – in reality – very different from marijuana. They contain powerful chemicals called cannabimimetics and can cause dangerous health effects. The drugs are made specifically to be abused. A recent synthetic…
Is it better to use syringes or medication cups? A study involving three pediatric clinics tried to determine the best dosing tool for giving liquid medication to children. Each participating adult received a medication cup and a syringe. They were then asked to measure out liquid medicines in various doses…
This Thanksgiving season, keep your loved ones safe by following these food safety tips for preparing your holiday meals. Prepare Wash your hands, kitchen surfaces, utensils, and cutting boards frequently, especially after handling uncooked food and before touching other foods. Wash produce but not eggs, meat, or poultry, which can…
The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can also spread through sexual contact and from a pregnant person to a fetus. It gained worldwide attention after being linked to microcephaly (a birth defect where the head is much smaller than expected) and other serious defects, so pregnant people and…
A refreshing swim in the backyard or community swimming pool often quenches the hot days of summer. Many pools are treated with chemicals to prevent unwanted bacterial growth. Exposure to chemicals in swimming pools can happen to pool owners during routine maintenance or to those just wanting to enjoy a…
