Poisons can be found in everyday items located in all areas of your home – kitchen, closets, bathrooms, attic, garage, dining room, laundry room, storage areas and basements. To help prevent accidental poisoning, follow these poison prevention tips.
Washington Poison Center Toll-free hotline: 1-800-222-1222 Voice and TDD/TTY
Poison Prevention Tips
- Use child-resistant containers (but remember: child-resistant containers are not completely childproof).
- Keep potentially poisonous products in their original containers (see below for product list).
- Place potentially poisonous products out
of reach immediately after use. - Put Mr. Yuk stickers on all poisonous products in and around your home, and teach children what the stickers mean.
- For more information on Mr. Yuk—or to order Mr. Yuk stickers—visit the Washington Poison Center's Web site at: www.wapc.org
- Keep emergency numbers (including the Washington Poison Center) next to your phone.
Make sure these products are stored safely:
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications (including aspirin and vitamins)
- Disinfectants, deodorants and air fresheners
- All kinds of sprays
- Polishes and cleansing powder
- Fertilizers and weed killers
- Insect and rodent poison; slug bait
- Paint remover and turpentine
- Cosmetics
- Soaps, detergents and shampoo
- Toilet bowl and drain cleaners
- Lye and bleach
- Kerosene and lighter fluids
- Insect repellent
- Mothballs and pesticides
Note: Special care should also be taken with house plants as many may be poisonous if eaten by humans or pets.
What to do when someone is poisoned:
If it is a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1. If you suspect a possible poisoning—or for more information on potential poisons—call the Washington Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
- What was taken? (Exact name of the product.) Bring product container to the phone if possible.
- When was it taken?
- How much was taken?
- Who took it? Body size makes a big difference in determining a poisonous dose.
- The name, condition, age and weight of the patient.
- Address and telephone number from where you are calling.
About the Washington Poison Center
The Washington Poison Center is a 24-hour telephone service providing information and emergency response for poisonings. Staffed by nurses, pharmacists and poison information specialists — and supported by a board-certified clinical toxicologist—the center handles over 70,000 calls a year. To learn more, visit the center's Web site at www.wapc.org
Other languages (All files are PDF.)
DOH Pub 821-010
Revised - March 2008
Reviewed annually
This document was produced in cooperation with the
Emergency Management Division of the Washington State Military Department.