20/04/2012

9,500 Calls Made To National Poisons Centre

The National Poisons Information Centre at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, have said the received 9,500 calls last year.

The newly released figures suggest that 46% of calls concerned children under the age of five, with medicines and household products being the main items involved in the queries.

While common products such as fabric-cleaners, bleach and dishwasher products were the reason for many calls, the most common drug inquiry concerned paracetamol.

The National Poisons Information Centre director Dr Edel Duggan says that very often a child will not need to visit a hospital or doctor if a parent rings the poisons centre for advice.

The figures were released to mark the first national poisons awareness day.

A new book, 'Say No to poisons' is being circulated to day-care centres and preschools to raise awareness.

(H)


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