Thanksgiving Poisoning Prevention
Poison Prevention Tips
- Clean. Chill. Separate. Cook.
- Clean: Wash hands and counter tops before preparing food. Always use clean utensils
- Chill: Store food at proper temperatures. Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Keep perishables in the refrigerator at 40 °F or less.
- Separate: Avoid cross-contamination of foods with bacteria from raw meat, poultry, seafood or their juices. Wash hands, cutting boards, utensils and dishes with hot soapy water if they have been in contract with raw meat, poultry or seafood.
- Cook: Use a quick-response thermometer to make sure foods are thoroughly cooked or reheated.
- Discard perishable foods left out more than two hours.
- Decorate with nonpoisonous plants and place poisonous plants well out of children’s reach.
- Use child-resistant packaging, especially if young children are ever around. Replace caps securely. Of children treated in an ER for medicine poisoning, 38% got into a grandparent’s medicine. More grandparents identified electrical outlets than medicine as a top safety issue, but 36 times more children go to the ER for medicine poisoning!
- Assign someone to keep an eye on each child during parties, dinners, and get-togethers.
- Have children or grandchildren? Check out the poison prevention tips for the relevant ages.
- Mind the medicines when you travel or have visitors in your home. Provide visitors with a safe place to put their medicines, purses, and suitcases. When traveling, be sure your own medicines are kept away from children.
Poisoned? Get Expert Help.
Don't guess what you should do. Get accurate Poison Control answers online or by phone. Both are free and confidential.
or CALL 1-800-222-1222
Get the App!
Download the freewebPOISONCONTROL® app.
Subscribe to The Poison Post®
The Poison Post® is a free, quarterly
e-newsletter delivering poison prevention tips right to your inbox!
Connect with us
on social media!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for news, updates, and events!
Learn the Poison Prevention Jingles
Learn the Poison Help jingle in English or Spanish. Use these jingles to teach the Poison Control number: 1-800-222-1222. Available for download.
Support Us
Help us save lives! Donate now so we can continue to provide 24/7 expert help for poison emergencies. Your donation to our 501(c)(3) charitable organization will keep the phone lines open and the app online.