The Poison Post® August 2012 Edition

The Poison Post®

National Capital Poison Center August 2012 Edition

Laundry Detergent Pods

The newest way to wash clothes is by dropping a "pod" of detergent into the washing machine. The detergent is pre-measured. The pods are easy to handle. There are no spills. The coating of the pod dissolves in the wash. However, these convenient pods are posing an unexpected problem.

Babies and Ranitidine (Zantac®)

If you are treating your newborn baby with ranitidine (Zantac®) for heartburn, you are not alone. In fact, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), also called heartburn, acid reflux or indigestion, is extremely common in infants and children. Read on to learn about how to make sure you're using ranitidine safely.

Purple Berries Look Alike

At this time of year, the poison center gets a lot of calls every day about children who ate purple berries. Usually, they picked pokeberries growing in their yards. Are they good to eat? Can you tell the difference between pokeberries and grapes? Can your child tell them apart?

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Grandparents and Child Safety: Today's World

Grandmothers, grandfathers, and grandchildren love spending time together. But grandparents can be bewildered by today's safety recommendations. They raised their own children safely. Why doesn't the "old" way work anymore? While we might wish for an older time, children are growing up today, not yesterday.

Take Care with Head Lice Treatments

Head lice have tormented humans for thousands of years. These little bugs live on the scalp and feed on blood. Their eggs, called "nits", attach to hair. The most common victims are children from about three to twelve years old. Read on to learn about treating head lice safely.

Using "Skin Patch" Medicines

Many people benefit from drugs that are absorbed slowly and regularly. Some find it difficult to swallow pills. Remembering to take a drug frequently is hard for others. Fortunately, some drugs can be taken by putting on a skin patch. What medicines are available in skin patches? How should they be used?

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The National Capital Poison Center depends on generous contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations. In addition, partial funding is provided through grants and contracts from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

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