See What Events are happening in YOUR Area for Poison Prevention Week!

Next week marks National Poison Prevention Week. Fun events are happening all throughout Texas to help educate the public on poison prevention. Below you can find a list of events happening in various cities in Texas. Come on out and join in the fun and get educated too!

Central Texas Poison Center, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Temple

Central Texas is hosting a Poison Safety Safari on Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Cameron Park Zoo in Waco! Participate in various activities such as interactive games and animal interactions, and learn about staying safe from poisons in the environment. Free goody bags for the first 500 children!

Central Texas will also be hosting education events for the media:

·         Monday, March 17^th – A panel of experts (featuring Central Texas Poison Center’s Toxicologist, Dr. Ryan Morrissey) will be discussing the new and popular device, electronic cigarettes. 

·         Wednesday, March 19^th – Snake expert, Tim Cole from Austin Snake and Reptile will join a physician and Poison Center Specialist to discuss venomous snakes.  Mr. Cole will be providing 4 live venomous snakes to display.

Keep an eye out on the Central Texas Poison Center Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/CtrlTXPC for air times.

North Texas Poison Center, Dallas County Hospital District, Dallas

North Texas will hold the 10^th Annual Poison Jungle Safari at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas on Saturday, March 22, 2014 from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  As patrons enjoy the zoo, they can also stop at different stations to learn about Poisons in the Home, Carbon Monoxide Danger, Medication Safety, Bites and Stings, Tobacco and Drug Dangers and Poisonous Plants.  Someone will win a bike at 4:00 too!

Texas Panhandle Poison Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo

Texas Panhandle is hosting its 30th Medication Cleanout™ event on March 15th to kick off National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW).  This year marks the 5th anniversary of the program. Spring is a great time to clean out your medicine cabinets and drop off medications that are expired or no longer needed.  Visit www.MedicationCleanout.com for more information about the Amarillo event March 15th and the Lubbock and Abilene events in April.

TPPC has been visiting local elementary schools this year to share poison safety tips through an interactive puppet show.  During NPPW, focus will shift to middle and high schools for a “Save it to Your Cell” campaign.  Numerous schools have agreed to read a script that encourages students to get out their cell phones during home room and save 1-800-222-1222 into their contacts. This will be the first year for this project and TPPC plans to expand to school districts throughout their region in the future.

Last but not least, on Friday, March 14th from 11-2, TPPC will host an open house to showcase their brand new location in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy building, 1300 S. Coulter, Suite 105.

South Texas Poison Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

This year’s observance will focus on poisoning-prevention themes, with a different theme each day. The South Texas Poison Center will post information on each topic on its website at http://www.texaspoison.com/, and Miguel Fernández, M.D., a medical toxicologist and the director of the South Texas Poison Center, will be available for interviews.

·        Tuesday, March 19 – Poison Centers: Protecting Health While Saving You Time and  Money

·        Wednesday, March 20 – Poisonings Span a Lifetime

·         Thursday, March 21 – Home, Safe, Home

·         Friday, March 22 – Spotlight on Prescription Painkillers

West Texas Regional Poison Center, University Medical Center and El Paso County Hospital District, El Paso

The West Texas Regional Poison Center will be hosting its 20^th Annual Poison Jungle Safari on Saturday, March 29, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Cleveland Square Park. The event will be in conjunction with the KidsPalooza event in downtown El Paso. Come on out and learn more about poison prevention and safety- fun for the whole family! And get this- the first 500 children under 12 to complete the Safari will receive a free t-shirt!