Jacksonville, Fla. – It will be “business as usual” this holiday season for the Florida Poison Information Center located on the Shands Jacksonville campus. Holidays are just another 24-hour working day where the center will stand ready to handle questions or requests for emergency information from the public, according to Jay Schauben, Pharm.D., a University of Florida clinical professor of pharmacy and director of FPIC/Jax.
Unfortunately, happy family celebrations can be ruined by accidents involving such holiday hazards as alcohol, plants, and holiday decorations. “We want families to have a safe, warm, loving time of year,” Schauben said. “It’s amazing how just a little preparation, awareness, and common sense can keep all the little ones safe during this time.”
Dawn Sollee, Pharm.D., a UF clinical assistant professor of pharmacy and assistant director of FPIC/Jax, points out that adults are often distracted at holiday time. “They’re shopping, decorating, cooking, wrapping gifts, and entertaining friends. They just can’t watch the kids every minute.” With a little poison proofing knowledge, you can help to limit accidents.
Common exposures during the holidays include:
- Alcohol: It’s found in liquor, beer and wine. Alcohol is also found in such popular gifts as shaving lotion, perfume, and cologne. Ingestion of even moderate amounts in a child is potentially serious. Children react to alcohol differently than adults, which can be dangerous.
- Plants and berries: The traditional mistletoe, holly, Christmas Rose, Jerusalem Cherry, Boxwood and Christmas Berry can create new hazards. While they offer a decorative touch to your home, the plants are also potentially toxic.
- Holiday decorations: During this time of year, FPIC/Jax receives many calls on children with accidents involving various holiday decorations including: spray snow, evergreen scent, shellac ornaments, glitter, angel hair, and bubble lights.
Some of these items pose a significant hazard to children. Dr. Schauben advises recognizing the potential problems with these items and using them with reasonable care.
A safe holiday will surely result in happier times and memories. If an accident does occur, the specially trained health care practitioners at the Florida Poison Information Center – Jacksonville will be available to speak with you and advise you on the correct course of action.
FPIC/Jax, based on the campus of Shands Jacksonville, provides poisoning assessment and treatment advice through a nationwide, toll-free number, 1-800-222-1222. The center will answer questions on holiday products, plants, or other substances that might be harmful. FPIC/Jax is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and serves 42 counties in the northern and eastern coastal regions of the state and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
FPIC/Jax is a cooperative effort between Shands Jacksonville, the University of Florida Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Children’s Medical Services Division, State of Florida Department of Health. The Florida Poison Information Center – Jacksonville is a member of the Florida Poison Information Center Network. The American Association of Poison Control Centers certifies the Center as a regional poison control center.
For a free Poison Center emergency telephone sticker and other poison prevention educational materials, call the administrative line at (904) 244-4465 or visit www.fpicjax.org.