Experts at the New Jersey Poison Control Center Urge Families to Prevent the Preventable

National Poison Prevention Week highlights simple everyday actions that can reduce injuries

Most poison emergencies begin with an ordinary moment - a distracted minute, an unlocked cabinet or a dangerous product left within a child's reach.

And yet, many emergencies that happen at home are entirely preventable.

Poisonings don't wait - they can happen in seconds, in the places we feel safest.

Bruce Ruck

Managing Director, New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

With National Poison Prevention Week, which runs from March 15 to March 21, the New Jersey Poison Control Centerjoins a nationwide effort encouraging individuals and families to take simple steps today that can prevent tomorrow's emergencies. With U.S. poison centers responding to more than 2 million cases each year - about one case every 15 seconds - the message is clear: knowing the risks and acting early can resolve everyday mishaps safely, stop minor concerns from becoming emergencies and, when it matters most, save lives.

Common Products, Unexpected Dangers

"Poisonings don't wait - they can happen in seconds, in the places we feel safest," said Bruce Ruck, managing director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

From medications and cleaning products to cannabis edibles, vape liquids and carbon monoxide sources, many poisoning risks hide in plain sight. Exposures often happen when routines change or when products are left accessible.

"The good news is that poison exposures are not inevitable," Ruck said. "They are preventable. Small actions taken today can prevent tomorrow's emergencies."

National data shows that most poison exposures happening at home - about nine out of 10 - can be safely managed right where they occur. When people call the Poison Help Line, they receive fast, accurate medical guidance that helps them handle the situation without leaving home. This quick expert support improves outcomes and often prevents unnecessary emergency department visits.

A recent independent analysis by RAND, Poison Prevention, Treatment, and Detection as Public Health Investments, underscores the essential value poison centers provide:

• U.S. poison centers generate about $3.1 billion in annual healthcare-related benefits, largely through avoided emergency department care, shorter hospital stays, and improved patient outcomes.
• For every $1 spent, communities receive an estimated $16.77 in additional benefits, including decreased risk of death, enhanced public health services, cost savings and improved peace of mind.

These findings demonstrate not only the lifesaving impact of poison centers but also their vital role in reducing strain on the healthcare system and supporting families when every second counts.

To prevent poison exposures, the New Jersey Poison Control Center urges everyone to take simple, practical steps to protect themselves and those around them:

• Store medicines, vitamins, cannabis edibles, nicotine and vaping products, laundry packets and household cleaners and chemicals in a secure place, out of sight and reach of children and pets.
• Never mix household cleaners as mixing them can create dangerous gases.
• Follow the directions on the medicine label carefully and double-check the dose.
• Keep products in their original containers with labels on.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home, including near sleeping areas and in the basement, and test them regularly.
• Never use a gas generator inside your home, basement, garage or near doors and windows.
• Never run a car inside an attached garage, even if the garage door is open.
• Save the Poison Help Line number in your phone: 1-800-222-1222.

"Whether it's locking up medications, reading labels, storing products safely, or recognizing hidden hazards, every action counts in preventing harm," said Ruck. "When families understand the risks in their homes, they're empowered to protect the people they love."

"And if you're ever unsure, the New Jersey Poison Control Center is your first and fastest source of expert help, any time of day," Ruck said.

Poison Center specialists provide free, confidential medical advice around the clock - including nights, weekends, and holidays - for medicine errors, chemical concerns, household product exposures, plant or mushroom ingestions, bites and stings and much more. Anyone can call for help at any time, whether it's a child, teen or adult.

Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or start an online chat. If someone isn't breathing, is having difficulty waking up or having a seizure, call 911.