Poison centers nationwide take more than 6,600 calls a day during the height of summer season, a thousand more a day than in January.

When they're out of school, children may roam freely around the house and yard with minimal supervision. Make sure all toxic substances, such as charcoal lighter fluid and paint thinner, are out of their reach and that medications are stored securely in a locked area.

Keep in mind, many insect populations are at their peak during the summer. To decrease your chance of being bitten or stung, avoid using perfumes, scented lotions and scented cosmetics, and avoid wearing brightly colored or patterned clothing. Also avoid going barefoot. If someone does get bitten or stung, call the Poison Center so they can tell you the signs of an allergic reaction such as a sore throat or hives.

If you have teens, it's important to know the dangers of synthetic drugs, also known as "spice," "genie," or "K2." Although it is sometimes found in legal retail locations or online, it is not tested, so it may contain a variety of unsafe chemicals and cause side effects that users are not expecting. The chemicals in synthetic drugs affect the same brain receptors as marijuana, but may be up to 100 times as potent as marijuana. The use of this drug is high among young people because it often can't be detected in standard drug tests. In 2012, synthetic marijuana was the second most common illicit drug used by high school seniors, after marijuana. It can be purchased in several different forms, such as incense, potpourri, or herbal infusions for drinking, and is often labeled "not for human consumption."

For questions or concerns, call the Texas Poison Center Network experts at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim experiences any difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately.

Congrats to our Poster Contest Winners!

Nivriti Boyanapalli won first place in the North Texas regional contest and the state contest.

4th grade

Hickey Elementary

Miakoda Nutt (left) won first place in the South Texas regional contest.

4th grade

Castle Hills Elementary

Jorge Rincon won first place in the Central Texas regional contest.

5th grade

De Zevala Elementary

Bianka Buatista won first place in the Southeast Texas regional contest.

4th grade

Tice Elementary

And Congrats to Daniel Yoo for winning

3rd place in the national poison

prevention week poster contest.

4th grade

Pink Elementary

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Allergy Advice

If you suffer from allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, watery eyes, a scratchy throat, or sneezing, antihistamines can help. There are antihistamine tablets, eye drops, nasal sprays, creams, and liquids.

However, these products can cause side effects such as dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, blurred vision and difficulty urinating.

Read the directions: Take the dose that is recommended by the manufacturer or your physician. Do not take the next dose sooner than you are supposed to. Check the label to see if the product is appropriate for use in children.
Keep out of reach of children: Children may be attracted to the taste or color of medication. If a child takes too much antihistamine, poisoning can occur. This could result in seizures or hallucinations. Also, sedating antihistamines can cause some children to become hyperactive rather than drowsy. Keep medication tightly closed and out of reach of children.
Check the active ingredients on the label: Sometimes antihistamines are used in combination products that treat congestion, cough, or colds. Check the medication labels of all the medications you are taking to make sure that you do not overdose by taking extra doses of antihistamines.

If you think you or your child may have taken too much antihistamine medication, contact the Poison Center at

1-800-222-1222.

Check out our new short video created to educate about the free, 24/7, confidential poison help line. Please help us spread awareness and education by sharing this video with friends, family and others at your organization. The call is free, peace of mind is priceless!