By Carol A. Cates, MSN, MBA, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Odessa Regional Medical Center
My grandson is that age where he is seriously mobile. He’s crawling at high speed and trying very hard to walk, and knowing his personality, running is only a matter of weeks away. With all that mobility has also come curiosity and exploration, and as with all babies and toddlers, curiosity and exploration mean everything goes into his mouth. I am finding myself saying,” Yuck,” “Yucky” and “Blech” and accompanying those with facial expressions of disgust quite a lot these days. Basically, I’m trying to teach him to not put things that he shouldn’t in his mouth. As I was thinking about National Poison Prevention Week and my grandson putting everything in his mouth, I wondered, whatever happened to Mr. Yuck?
If talking about grandkids was not enough to betray my age, I guess Mr. Yuck certainly is. But as I think about all the things in our homes that are poisons and dangers to not just kids but adults, I remember how very effective Mr. Yuck was and wish he would make a comeback. For those of you who aren’t as ancient as I am, Mr. Yuck was a huge public service campaign targeted at teaching kids to stay away from potential poisons in the home. Mr. Yuck looked amazingly like the vomiting emoji we use now, and the idea was to teach kids that when they saw Mr. Yuck on a label, whatever was inside was “Yucky.” Everything from cleaning supplies to over-the-counter medications carried a Mr. Yuck label, sending a strong clear message to stay away.
Unfortunately, not only have we lost Mr. Yuck, we have also had a marketing and culture shift where many things now that are poisonous are also pretty. I think about the detergent pods and their bright colors, the cleaning supplies with their bright labels and flowery scents. Vitamins and over the counter medications are now packaged like candy with gummy and chocolate or other confection appearances and flavors. It’s not all that surprising when we hear about the poisonings on the news from these products when you think about it. Poisonings aren’t just from putting things in mouths in kids, it can be from handling chemicals, medications, and other toxins, or by getting toxins into their eyes or on their skin from splashing.
Unfortunately, poisoning is not just kids. It happens to people of all ages. With adults it can be putting things in their mouths like kids do, but it also can be things like mixing cleaning supplies and creating chemical reactions which give off toxic gasses, working with chemicals in poorly ventilated areas, or like kids, handling toxins or getting splashed with toxins. With adults there is also a bigger risk of exposures outside the home, especially in workplaces that deal with toxins of all sorts, from oilfield chemicals to cleaning supplies.
With any sort of toxin, the best practice is prevention. At home keep cleaning chemicals, detergents, medications and even things like make-up out of reach of children. Remember that little people are very curious and creative when it comes to getting to those out of reach spaces. Cabinet locks and child proof containers are strongly recommended as well for potentially poisonous items. Keep your ears open for things like Tic-Toc challenges that involve kids ingesting or handling toxins and speak proactively to your kids about the hazards of such challenges. As adults, we need to remember to follow manufacturer instructions and wear protective gear when using any sort of chemical or toxin, to not mix chemicals without understanding the risks, and to take medications according to the directions. In the workplace, look for Safety Data Sheets whenever you work with a potential toxin so you know how to properly handle, any protective gear needed, and if you are exposed what to do to minimize damage.
If the worst happens and you or a loved one is exposed to a poison, call poison control immediately. I highly recommend saving their number in your phone. That number is 1-800-222-1222. You can call it from anywhere in the US 24/7 and reach a poison control expert. They will tell you how to best minimize any damage from the poison from that point, including any antidotes and seeking medical attention. Please remember this week and every week to be careful around poisons, and to teach your kids those things are “yucky” too.
