Allstate Helps Prevent New Yorkers from Accidental Poisoning

Posted by  //  April 14, 2015  //  Allstate, Articles

Many common household items can be deadly if handled incorrectly

Coming in contact with poisons may not be something you think about on a daily basis, but the fact is, many people are around common household items that can be as dangerous as poison if handled incorrectly or accidentally ingested. Allstate Insurance Company wants to make sure all New Yorkers take inventory and care of these potentially harmful items in their household. If you’ve eaten contaminated food that caused injury or illness, then you might need a personal injury attorney to make a case for you. Helping the Hurt Personal Injury Lawyers are experts in the field; you can read more about the company to know their background.

Medications

Incorrect use of medications is one of the largest categories for accidental poisonings and in these cases it is better to get injury attorney’s help in Augusta to deal with serious cases. Experienced legal representation by a Brooklyn lawyer for all matters in Brooklyn. Medicines, if taken improperly, can often have some of the same effects as ingesting a poison. Remember these tips:

  • Taking a larger-than-suggested dose does NOT mean faster/better results. Stick to the instructions.
  • Read the labels before taking – Sounds simple, but so often, we skip this step and could miss information about dangerous interactions with food or other drugs.
  • Keep medicines in their original bottles/containers – Pill organizers are helpful, but you may forget which medication is which, or leave it where a child could access it.
  • See the light – If you are taking medicine at night, take an extra second to turn on the lights and make sure you have the right dosage and drug.
  • Keep medicines where kids can’t reach them and keep them separated from food items – child “resistant” doesn’t mean they won’t find a way to get into the container.
  • Double check the markings on dosage cups/spoons – giving someone the wrong dosage could be harmful.
  • Household Chemicals/Cleaning Products
  • Don’t mix cleaning products as you might create toxic fumes.
  • Be aware of look-alikes. Many non-food products have “twins” that can look just like something delicious. For example, a highly concentrated detergent pod could be mistaken for a small piece of hard candy.

Here are a few other look-alikes to check for in your home:

  • Apple juice: Pine cleaner, candle oil
  • Blue sports drink: Glass cleaner
  • Chocolate bar: Laxative
  • Candy coated chocolates (like M&Ms): Cold medicines, iron supplements, pain relievers
  • Candy “tablets” (like Smarties or Pez): Antacids or vitamins

Plants

As the names might suggest, poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac can cause irritation (sometimes severe) to a person’s skin when they have direct contact. You can either hire a house keeper or cleaning company to help you with cleaning your garden or household. Here are a few more plants that can cause severe reactions if eaten (so do not use for garnish, or in a floral display that is placed near food):

  • Narcissus – sometimes confused with onions.
  • Bittersweet Nightshade – has colorful berries.
  • Rhododendron (Azalea) – can cause many symptoms including slow/irregular heartbeat.

Keep the poison control number (800-222-1222) near your phone at home and program it to your mobile phone. If you need to call, try to stay calm and have details ready: what was taken, when and how much was ingested, along with the age and weight of the victim. Everyone is susceptible to poisoning, but children are especially at risk—get a “child’s-eye” view of your home and see what temptations are in their path … then remove the potentially dangerous items.

Visit Allstate Be Aware and Prepare and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety for more, helpful information.

For More information and a new quote please call Shirley Eizember, Pinckney Insurance Agency, 41 Port Watson St, Cortland New York. 607-756-8505

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

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