Celebrate National Public Health Week April 6th-12th, 2015!

National Public Health Week is a great time to get better informed about your health and an important time to highlight health issues that are significant to you and your community. According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), the United States trails other countries in life expectancy and other measures of good health for all ages. While the U.S. has some of the best doctors in the world, our health still ranks poorly when compared to other countries.

The Texas Poison Center Network (TPCN) wants to remind the public that poisonings are still the number one cause of injury-related deaths in the United States. By becoming better informed and taking the right precautions, we can help change this. Poison prevention is critical to the health of this nation. The most important tool the poison centers provide the public with is the national poison control toll-free number, 1-800-222-1222. Experts in toxicology, trained nurses, doctors and pharmacists are all waiting by the phone to answer your calls regarding poison-related questions, concerns or injuries.

Here are some important health tips from the TPCN:

-Always store medications up and out-of-reach of children. It is vital that children do not have access to medications without adult supervision.

-If you are unsure about taking two types of medications together, please contact the poison center for assistance.

-Never share medications with others that are prescribed to you.

-Keep potential poisons in their original container.

-Do not sniff chemical containers if you do not know what is inside. This can be extremely dangerous to your health.

If you do come in contact with a potential poison, please do not hesitate to contact the Texas poison helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Today is a great time to go ahead and save this number in your phone. You never know when you might need it!

During this week, take the time to engage with others to figure out how we as a nation can change the health of America so that it is a leading country in public health. And most importantly, learn about poison prevention to ensure you and your family stay safe and healthy.