Sources: Ward S. Upham, 785-532-1438, wupham@oznet.ksu.edu; Fred W. Oehme, 785-532-4334, oehme@k-state.edu

K-STATE EXPERTS SAY COLD WEATHER, HOLIDAYS INCREASE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS OF POISONS TO KEEP CHILDREN AND PETS SAFE

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University experts Ward Upham, instructor of horticulture, forestry and recreation, and Fred Oehme, professor of toxicology and pathobiology and director of K-State's comparative toxicology laboratories in the department of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, offer tips for keeping children and pets safe, especially during the holidays:

*Know what plants you have in your household and which ones are poisonous. If you suspect a poisonous plant has been ingested, find out what type of plant was eaten and call a poison control center. "Depending on what has been ingested, poison control operators will have different instructions to follow, making it all the more important to know what types of plants you have in your household," Upham said.

*For households without small children, child proof when expecting company. This is extremely important during the holidays when families are getting together at households not accustomed to young children.

*Keep ashtrays, cleaning products and poisonous plants in a secure location out of the reach of children and pets.

*When outdoors, keep an eye on children and pets and watch what they explore; this may prevent them from ingesting something poisonous, Oehme said.

*Symptoms indicating a pet has ingested a poisonous substance include unexplained vomiting, unusual drooling, burns or irritations around the mouth, difficulty breathing, unusual behavior and unconsciousness and convulsions.

For more information on poisonous plants, visit the New York Botanical Gardens website, http://www.nybg.org/plants/factsheets/poison.html

Poison control numbers:
Poison Control Center in Kansas City, Kan., is 1-800-332-6633 (humans)
Universal Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222 (humans)
K-State's Poison Control Hotline is 785-532-5679 (pets)
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is 1-888-426-4435 (pets)

 

Winter 2002

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