Tuesday, January 15, 2019

TPCN Spotlight Blog: North Texas SPI Joel Sherman


1)    Tell me your history with poison control and how you became a SPI.
I have only worked at Poison Control since this past September.  My background is in school nursing for the most part and it is 
policy there to contact poison control for any exposure to a potentially toxic substance that a student or teacher has been exposed to. The thing that I enjoy most about this job is learning practical information about substances that I can help people with (this also satisfies my need to be a smarty pants). I learned about the job when my fiancé stated that she and her sister had a friend who were always talking about how awesome the job is.

2)    I’m sure you hear a lot of interesting stories when answering calls, but what is one story that sticks out in your head that might have been scary but turned out funny and/or everything worked out after the call.
I once received a call where a teacher had been smearing glow stick fluids all over her face while giving her students a lecture
over toxic chemicals. I guess this is so they would remember the subject matter. She stated that she got some of the fluid in her eye and that now her face was burning. She stated she irrigated her eye earlier. I recommended washing her face with soap and water. I assume that everything worked out okay after this call because she didn’t call back complaining of worsening symptoms. I thought the call was ironic for many reasons. She read on the label that the substance was non-toxic, she was talking about toxic chemicals. Then she called Poison Control because when her face started burning she second guessed herself on the toxicity. And why would you rub it on your face if you were not 100% certain. Plus just weird.


    3)    What do you think people need to know about the people who answer the phones for poison control?
We give advice according to the amount of information we are given. The more descriptive they can be with the situation the more we will be able to help.

    4)    What do you enjoy most about your job and why?
I enjoy learning. Everyday there is something new to learn and all of the people that I work with are great resources with a vast amount of knowledge.

5)    Why do you think it is important for people to have poison control as a resource for emergency help?
It is important for people to have poison control as a resource for emergency help because a lot of exposures do not require a medical professional to observe. These exposures when taken to the Emergency Department (ED) of the hospital are expensive for the person who was exposed, and make take up a spot in the ED that can be used for true medical emergency.

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Top New Year’s Resolutions from the Texas Poison Center Network


With the new year upon us, now is the perfect time to make sure you and your family are prepared to prevent potential poisonings and keep your loved ones safe. The TPCN has compiled our top five resolutions for have a poison-free year! 
Check them out below:

1.    STAY INFORMED! Sign up for the TPCN Newsletter and the TPCN Blog- The newsletter comes only once a month to your email and it provides you with tips and tools regarding the time of year and any major timely poison related issues. The blog is bi-weekly and provides updates on newsworthy poison dangers. By receiving these and reading them, you can stay up-to-date on poison dangers and ensure you are keeping you and your loved ones healthy and safe.

2.    BE PREPARED! Save the Poison Help Number: If you do ever need to call poison control, it’s a smart idea to already have the number saved in your phone. In stressful situations it can sometimes be hard to remember numbers, so having the number saved in your phone will alleviate stress and help you get ahold of poison control quickly. Save it in your phone: 1-800-222-1222!

3.    PREVENT POISON! Clean Out Medications 
      and Other Potentially Dangerous Household Products: Now is a great time to clean out your medicine cabinet. Get rid of expired medications or any medications you no longer take or need. Once you have done that, make sure your medication is located up, away, & out of sight in a secured location. This keeps children out of medications and keeps your entire family safer.

Be sure to keep and store any household cleaners and other potential poisons in secure locations as well. These household items will also have expiration dates on them, so if they are expired, be sure to throw those away too!

4.    SHARE! Order a FREE Materials from the TPCN Website: On our website, you can order free magnets, brochures and other educational items. Make sure to at least order a magnet for your family and maybe a few extra to give to friends, neighbors or relatives to keep on their refrigerators, especially those with small children and those who are elderly. To order, visit www.poisoncontrol.org, click on “Order Materials” and input your zip code. Scroll down and you can see all the items you can order from us at no cost to help you stay informed and poison-free!

5.    TPCN Brochures: Download or order at least one of the poison control brochures to learn more about poisons from our website www.poisoncontrol.org. Brochure topics include:
·         Poison Prevention Guide
·         Bites and Stings
·         Poisonous Plants
·         Alcohol and Tobacco
·         Prescription Drug Epidemic
·         Synthetic Drugs