Tips to Prevent Poisonings at Home
Dr. Ebrahim Karkevandian explains what toxicology is and common causes of poisoning in adults. Listen as he provides helpful statistics and resources for emergency situations.
Featured Speaker:
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT
Dr. Ebrahim Karkevandian is an emergency medicine physician working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Karkevandian earned his medical degree from University of Health Sciences medical school in Kansas City. He completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center where he was selected Chief Resident in his third year. Following this, Dr. Karkevandian completed his fellowship in Medical Toxicology at the New Jersey Poison Control Center. Transcription:
Tips to Prevent Poisonings at Home
Intro: This is BayCare HealthChat, another podcast from BayCare Health System.
Caitlin Whyte: Welcome to BayCare HealthChat. I'm Caitlin Whyte. And in this episode, we are talking about toxicology, what it is and how it affects your life. Joining us for this conversation is Dr. Ebrahim Karkevandian, an emergency medicine physician with BayCare Health System.
So, doctor, start us off here. What is a toxin?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Well, a toxin, sometimes we call them a poison. These are the chemicals or substances that can cause harm to our body and can cause harm to the animals and to the environment. The toxins are not the same as viruses or bacteria. Toxins basically are all over. Some examples of the poisons or toxins at home are cleaning agents like a toilet bowl cleaner, ammonia, bleach, and Pine-Sol. Also some can be medication at home. You know, things like a Tylenol or aspirin or even Aleve. If it is given more than the recommended dosage, they can cause poisoning or be a toxin to our body.
Another good example of a poison is a snake venom. Also there are some mushrooms and plants can be poisonous as well.
Caitlin Whyte: And you touched on my next question, but is the toxin the same as a poison?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Yes. The name of the toxin and poison basically are the same. For example, the toxicology, immunotoxicology because of the toxin. But sometimes they call them poisoning or drug overdose. These are all interchangeable, but they're the same. The poison and the toxin basically are the same term.
Caitlin Whyte: Now, when we're talking about toxicology, what does that mean? And what do toxicologists do?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: So toxicology is a field of medicine, branch of the medicine that is dedicated to the toxins. And basically what they do, they help us to understand the harmful effect of the chemical on people, on animals and on the environment. So toxicologists are physicians. They are experts in toxicology. They are experts in the field of poisoning.
They are mostly physicians and also they could be a pharmacist. Basically, what they do after they complete medical school, they go to their own training residency program to get specialized in a field of medicine, could be emergency department, could be pediatrics, it could be internal medicine.
And after they complete their residency program, they attend another program we call a fellowship in toxicology, which is another two extra years. So after they complete their fellowship, they have to take a board examination in the field of medical toxicology. So they have to pass the board in order to be qualified and be called a medical toxicologist.
Where do the medical toxicologists usually work? They usually work in the emergency department and usually at the poison control centers. Also, as I mentioned, the toxicologist could be a pediatrician, could be pharmacists as well.
Caitlin Whyte: You mentioned a bunch of household products that are considered toxic. Can you talk more about getting exposed to poisons at home?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Sure, sure. So some of the example of the poisons at home are cleaning agents like ammonia, Pine-Sol, toilet bowl cleaner as well as the bleach. So those can be poisonous to every adult or the children.
Some of the agents at home that can be causing poisoning are medications. We're talking about simple medication like a Tylenol or aspirin, Aleve. If it is given in not a recommended dosage. For example, parents don’t look at the exact recommendation dose for the age and amount of weight. So they give more than usual of Tylenol, for example, for the fever. And they can cause poisoning and toxicity to that individual.
Also some of the plants, mushrooms and the plants also can be poisonous, around the house, outside of the house. The pediatrics and the adult can get exposed to.
Caitlin Whyte: What are some toxins that my children or my dog are more likely to get poisoned by at home?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Well, one is a common mistake, for example, maybe I'll start by saying for the pediatrics, as you all know, the kids are so quick and so fast, they get everything. The toddler, for example, things get to the mouth so quickly and so fast. So does a drug. The drug has a quick effect, quickly affects the body. As we realize we get exposed to it, could be by ingestion, could be by skin exposure, could be through inhalation, by breathing in the toxin. So they work so quickly.
The dogs are also very curious. Everything goes to their mouth as we all know. For example, one of the most common agents that dogs get exposed to is antifreeze. Antifreeze is one chemical that we use within the radiator. So, they get into it, but it tastes good. They lick on that, is drinking that, the same as pediatrics. The kids love everything, especially sweet. They put them in their mouth and they get poisoned.
Caitlin Whyte: As we wrap up here, how can I prevent my children and my pets from exposure to poisons?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Well, there are different ways that they can prevent poisoning at home, to others, to pediatrics and as well as to our animals or pets. For example, I have a few recommendations, number one, do not mix the household cleaning products together. For example, do not mix the ammonia and bleach together.
So what happens when mixing these chemicals together, they produce a toxic gas. And when they inhale that, it can cause difficulty breathing and cause complications or problems in our breathing system. So the other one I would recommend basically to keep all the chemicals products out of the reach of the children. Put them somewhere that kids, the pediatrics, especially toddler cannot get on.
And also keep these chemicals in their original container. One of the most common problem that we see in the poison control center and we get phone calls is where the parents put the chemical in the wrong container. For example, they use soda cans. And they use them to put some, as I mentioned, antifreeze, put in the garage, a dog or the toddler can get hold of them and drink it. So it's safe to put everything in the original container.
The other one recommendation that I have, to keep all the medication in a safe cabinet, out of the reach of the toddler or pediatric. Because they can easily, as I mentioned, everything goes to the mouth, toddler as well as animal. They can get exposed to the chemical easily because it looks like a candy.
Another example is the pod detergent. As you all know, when the pods detergent came to the market, we have seen significant cases involving the pediatrics ingesting or putting the pods detergent in their mouth, causing burning sensation and causing all of these complications. So we should try to keep the chemical and the medications out of the reach of the children.
Caitlin Whyte: Well, thank you for this great information, doctor. Head on over to our website at BayCare.org for more information, and to get connected with one of our providers. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all of the other BayCare podcasts. For more health tips and updates, visit us on your social channels. This has been another episode of BayCare HealthChat. I'm Caitlin Whyte. Stay well.
Tips to Prevent Poisonings at Home
Intro: This is BayCare HealthChat, another podcast from BayCare Health System.
Caitlin Whyte: Welcome to BayCare HealthChat. I'm Caitlin Whyte. And in this episode, we are talking about toxicology, what it is and how it affects your life. Joining us for this conversation is Dr. Ebrahim Karkevandian, an emergency medicine physician with BayCare Health System.
So, doctor, start us off here. What is a toxin?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Well, a toxin, sometimes we call them a poison. These are the chemicals or substances that can cause harm to our body and can cause harm to the animals and to the environment. The toxins are not the same as viruses or bacteria. Toxins basically are all over. Some examples of the poisons or toxins at home are cleaning agents like a toilet bowl cleaner, ammonia, bleach, and Pine-Sol. Also some can be medication at home. You know, things like a Tylenol or aspirin or even Aleve. If it is given more than the recommended dosage, they can cause poisoning or be a toxin to our body.
Another good example of a poison is a snake venom. Also there are some mushrooms and plants can be poisonous as well.
Caitlin Whyte: And you touched on my next question, but is the toxin the same as a poison?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Yes. The name of the toxin and poison basically are the same. For example, the toxicology, immunotoxicology because of the toxin. But sometimes they call them poisoning or drug overdose. These are all interchangeable, but they're the same. The poison and the toxin basically are the same term.
Caitlin Whyte: Now, when we're talking about toxicology, what does that mean? And what do toxicologists do?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: So toxicology is a field of medicine, branch of the medicine that is dedicated to the toxins. And basically what they do, they help us to understand the harmful effect of the chemical on people, on animals and on the environment. So toxicologists are physicians. They are experts in toxicology. They are experts in the field of poisoning.
They are mostly physicians and also they could be a pharmacist. Basically, what they do after they complete medical school, they go to their own training residency program to get specialized in a field of medicine, could be emergency department, could be pediatrics, it could be internal medicine.
And after they complete their residency program, they attend another program we call a fellowship in toxicology, which is another two extra years. So after they complete their fellowship, they have to take a board examination in the field of medical toxicology. So they have to pass the board in order to be qualified and be called a medical toxicologist.
Where do the medical toxicologists usually work? They usually work in the emergency department and usually at the poison control centers. Also, as I mentioned, the toxicologist could be a pediatrician, could be pharmacists as well.
Caitlin Whyte: You mentioned a bunch of household products that are considered toxic. Can you talk more about getting exposed to poisons at home?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Sure, sure. So some of the example of the poisons at home are cleaning agents like ammonia, Pine-Sol, toilet bowl cleaner as well as the bleach. So those can be poisonous to every adult or the children.
Some of the agents at home that can be causing poisoning are medications. We're talking about simple medication like a Tylenol or aspirin, Aleve. If it is given in not a recommended dosage. For example, parents don’t look at the exact recommendation dose for the age and amount of weight. So they give more than usual of Tylenol, for example, for the fever. And they can cause poisoning and toxicity to that individual.
Also some of the plants, mushrooms and the plants also can be poisonous, around the house, outside of the house. The pediatrics and the adult can get exposed to.
Caitlin Whyte: What are some toxins that my children or my dog are more likely to get poisoned by at home?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Well, one is a common mistake, for example, maybe I'll start by saying for the pediatrics, as you all know, the kids are so quick and so fast, they get everything. The toddler, for example, things get to the mouth so quickly and so fast. So does a drug. The drug has a quick effect, quickly affects the body. As we realize we get exposed to it, could be by ingestion, could be by skin exposure, could be through inhalation, by breathing in the toxin. So they work so quickly.
The dogs are also very curious. Everything goes to their mouth as we all know. For example, one of the most common agents that dogs get exposed to is antifreeze. Antifreeze is one chemical that we use within the radiator. So, they get into it, but it tastes good. They lick on that, is drinking that, the same as pediatrics. The kids love everything, especially sweet. They put them in their mouth and they get poisoned.
Caitlin Whyte: As we wrap up here, how can I prevent my children and my pets from exposure to poisons?
Ebrahim Karkevandian, DO, FACOEP, FACOMT: Well, there are different ways that they can prevent poisoning at home, to others, to pediatrics and as well as to our animals or pets. For example, I have a few recommendations, number one, do not mix the household cleaning products together. For example, do not mix the ammonia and bleach together.
So what happens when mixing these chemicals together, they produce a toxic gas. And when they inhale that, it can cause difficulty breathing and cause complications or problems in our breathing system. So the other one I would recommend basically to keep all the chemicals products out of the reach of the children. Put them somewhere that kids, the pediatrics, especially toddler cannot get on.
And also keep these chemicals in their original container. One of the most common problem that we see in the poison control center and we get phone calls is where the parents put the chemical in the wrong container. For example, they use soda cans. And they use them to put some, as I mentioned, antifreeze, put in the garage, a dog or the toddler can get hold of them and drink it. So it's safe to put everything in the original container.
The other one recommendation that I have, to keep all the medication in a safe cabinet, out of the reach of the toddler or pediatric. Because they can easily, as I mentioned, everything goes to the mouth, toddler as well as animal. They can get exposed to the chemical easily because it looks like a candy.
Another example is the pod detergent. As you all know, when the pods detergent came to the market, we have seen significant cases involving the pediatrics ingesting or putting the pods detergent in their mouth, causing burning sensation and causing all of these complications. So we should try to keep the chemical and the medications out of the reach of the children.
Caitlin Whyte: Well, thank you for this great information, doctor. Head on over to our website at BayCare.org for more information, and to get connected with one of our providers. Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all of the other BayCare podcasts. For more health tips and updates, visit us on your social channels. This has been another episode of BayCare HealthChat. I'm Caitlin Whyte. Stay well.