Florida Injury Prevention Programs for Seniors (FLIPS) Senior Poison, Medication, and Food Safety Professional Module

Overview of FLIPS Professionals—physical therapists, health educators, nurses, practitioners, researchers, etc. Focus—fall prevention; fire safety; and poison prevention - medication and food safety Satellite groups Janet Lehman—FLIPS coordinator in DOEA.

The Facts: Are Seniors Beyond The Risk of a Poisoning Incident? Poison gets in the body through inhalation or contact with the mouth, skin, and/or eyes Annually in America, 80,000 seniors are poisoned by: organisms in food bites and stings medications substances of abuse chemicals plants home and personal products

Poison Trivia Which is the most dangerous product for a child to swallow? – Calamine lotion – Laundry bleach (5% chlorine) – Arthritis pain relief ointment (with oil of wintergreen) Answer?

Which is the most dangerous for a child to swallow? – 1 prescription pill for diabetes – pencil lead – 1 cigarette butt Answer? Poison Trivia cont’d…

Which is the most dangerous for a child to swallow? – 10 children’s Tylenol – 1 Verapamil tablet – A gulp of hydrogen peroxide Answer?

Prevention & Education Why do seniors need to know about poison safety? – To protect themselves. The most common poisons for Florida seniors are medications, household poisons, and organisms in food. – To protect their loved ones.

Causes of Medication Poisoning Interaction from multiple prescription drugs Over-the-counter or herbal interactions Taking another person’s drugs Vision or reading difficulties

Sensitivity to drugs (allergies) Poor liver and/or kidney function No reminder system for taking medications Self-adjusting drug dosages Causes of Medication Poisoning cont’d…

Lack of Dosing Schedule 60% of seniors on anti-hypertensives have no system for remembering their doses. Results: – missed doses – doubled doses – erratic drug levels – side effects

Teaching Medication Safety Create a designated place for seniors to take medications such as: – well-lighted areas – child-proof caps and cabinets – check-off schedules – note pads and pens to record problems or side effects

Poison Resources Who provides reliable information about medications? – Physicians – Pharmacists – The Poison Control Center

Causes of Household Poisonings Look-alikes Storing non-food items next to food Storing chemicals in drink bottles Mixing cleaners

Using cleaners without gloves or ventilation Leaving poisons in easy to reach places Child-resistant containers or latches not in use Storing water in containers other than water containers Causes of Household Poisonings

Safe Product Storage Store in original container Store in a secured location Store poisons away from food Use child resistant containers or cabinet latches Follow directions when using products Rinse and dry when adding a second cleaner

Who To Call For Help? For non-emergencies, call the company’s toll- free number on the label. For exposure to a product (fumes inhaled, spilled on skin, sprayed in eyes, swallowed) call the Poison Center at For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.

Causes of Food Poisoning Germs carried on dirty hands Certain plants, fruits, seeds, and roots

Causes of Food Borne Illness Cross-contamination during food preparation Improper cooking or storage of food Eating spoiled food or contaminated meats and fish

Food Safety Wash hands using lots of friction – W—warm – A—and – S—soapy – H—happy birthday Wash dishes and utensils after contact with raw meat or eggs. Sanitize food preparation surfaces monthly with bleach water & let air-dry. Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.

Types of Food Borne Illness Gastrointestinal symptoms – Campylobacter, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, Clostridium botulism – mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps Neurological symptoms – botulism or fish poisonings – paralysis, tremors, paresthesias, dysphagia, and headache Flu-like symptoms – Streptococcus, Listeria – fever, rash, sore throat, and headache

Food Borne Illness Resources For treatment advice, call the Poison Center at To report a restaurant or grocery store with bad food, call your county health department. For instructions about safe food preparation or healthy cooking, call your county cooperative extension program.

First Aid— Eyes For imbedded objects or glue stuck to eyes: – do not remove, go to the emergency room. For liquids, sprays, or splashes in the eye: – rinse affected eye with saline or tap water for 15 minutes. – rest closed eye and apply cool compress for 15 minutes. – if still symptomatic, seek medical attention.

First Aid— Inhaled Poisons Call for severe symptoms. Separate the person from the poison. – move him or her into fresh air. – if unable to move him or her, increase ventilation and remove toxins from the area, if possible. – call the Poison Center at for further instructions.

Separate the person from the poison. While protecting yourself, remove the affected clothing. Rinse affected area with water. Wash with soap and water if necessary. Call the Poison Center at for further instructions. First Aid— Poisons On The Skin

Brush solid particles off the mouth. As possible, rinse the mouth to dilute corrosives. If the person is alert, offer sips of water. If no respiratory difficulty or vomiting, continue to offer sips of water. Call the Poison Center at for further instructions. First Aid— Swallowed Poisons

First Aid— Misconceptions Milk is the preferred antidote. Butter should be applied to chemical burns. All victims must be made to vomit. Stick your fingers in the back of person’s throat to induce vomiting. Mix up the universal antidote: burned toast, tea, Maalox. Walk the person and give him or her coffee.

Syrup of Ipecac Contraindications: – child less than1 year of age – non-toxic product was ingested – ingestion occurred more than 1 hour ago – the ingested product was corrosive, an alcohol, or hydrocarbon – a rapid-acting poison was ingested – the person is going to the hospital for treatment Call the Poison Center before use.

The Poison Center Hotline— Provides advice after poisoning occurs. Answers question to help prevent poisonings. Most poisonings can be managed at home with help from the Poison Control Center. It is a free and confidential service. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Additional Resources For food safety information, call: – Meat and Poultry Hotline at For poison information, go to these websites: – Florida Poison Information Center in Jacksonville – Florida Poison Information Center in Tampa – American Association of Poison Control Centers