Greetings!   
 

There is a definite chill coming to Texas. Furnaces are beginning to kick on more frequently now. Every year, like clockwork, this is the time that calls to poison centers regarding carbon monoxide start to rise. 

 

Why does carbon monoxide poisoning go up in the fall/winter months compared to summer? Most commonly, it is due to inefficient, malfunctioning furnaces. When natural gas is burned, an efficient heater will have a by-product of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. A faulty heater that has incomplete burning of natural gas will create carbon monoxide (CO) and water.

 

So how can I prevent injury to myself and family this winter?

There are two frequently recommended ways to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning this winter:

  • Have the furnaces and other heaters (e.g. space, water) checked on a yearly basis. This is especially true in older homes. Sometimes heaters that were working perfectly the last time they were used in April do not function correctly in November.  Annual maintenance checks can save lives.
  • Make sure there are functioning carbon monoxide detectors in the home.  Even if the furnace was just checked, this will be a lifesaver. Perform regular checks on the detectors to ensure they are working properly and the batteries are up to date.  A common recommendation from fire departments is to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at daylight savings time.  Another little known fact is that carbon monoxide detectors have a life of 8 to 10 years.
Be sure to watch this recent news story here about one family's experience with carbon monoxide poisoning. If you have any questions or are concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning, call the experts at 1-800-222-1222.
New study finds thousands of children at risk from eating laundry pods
  
Cate Koziol was not yet 9 months old when she bit into a laundry pod and was hospitalized in the pediatric ICU.

 

A study recently published in Pediatrics found that in 2012 and 2013 17,230 children under age 6 got exposed to detergent pods. Most of the children were reported to have ingested a pod.  

 

Nearly two-thirds of the children were between 1 and 2 years old.  

 

Although her mother stored the pods out of reach, she had taken one out and left it on a hamper for her husband to take to the laundry room.

 

When Cate arrived at the hospital with her parents, doctors decided to keep her there for observation. Soon, the little girl was struggling to breathe. Doctors decided to intubate her and Cate spent the next two days in the pediatric intensive care unit. Although the whole experience was frightening, Cate has made a full recovery. Cate's story was originally reported on today.com, view it in its entirety here.  

 

For more information about laundry detergent pods, call 1-800-222-1222. Don't wait for symptoms to appear. 
 
 
  
  
  
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Here are a few tips to keep that most unwelcome Thanksgiving guest - food poisoning - from messing up your perfect holiday meal.

  • Salmonella can only be destroyed by cooking food to temperatures above 140 degrees.
  • It's okay to thaw turkey in its original plastic for one to two days. After that, move the turkey to plastic wrap or foil.
  • Thaw turkey or poultry inside the fridge, rather than elsewhere in your kitchen.
  • Don't stuff the turkey in advance and then refrigerate it. The core of the turkey is a perfect place for bacteria to grow.

Food poisoning symptoms can include fever, headache, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and vomiting. If you have questions about food safety, call 1-800-222-1222. Your call is free, confidential and we're open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Don't guess-be sure!

 
  
Tweens received a failing grade in a recent national OTC medicine safety survey conducted as part of the OTC Literacy program, which is sponsored by the American Association of Poison Control Centers and Scholastic. Find out why: here.

Do you talk to your tweens about over-the counter medicine safety? Now is a great time to start the conversation, since cold & flu season is right around the corner! 

Check out our blog for more details about OTC literacy.