Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

CHILDHOOD INJURY PREVENTION HANDBOOK

1

Children’s of Alabama

2 Supported in part by Project#H4B MC 00012-01 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services.

Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

A MESSAGE TO PARENTS

Injuries pose the greatest threat to your child’s health. Each year, more children lose their lives to injuries from guns, car crashes, choking, burns, falls, drowning and poisoning than from all contagious diseases combined! But that’s just part of the problem. For every child who dies from an injury, 50 more end up in the hospital, and 1,000 need to go to the emergency room. The good news is, there’s hope. Childhood injuries aren’t random accidents— they usually happen because of things that can be anticipated and avoided. We know that injury prevention efforts work! For example, thanks to improvements in car seats, laws regulating car seats/seat belts, and widespread educational efforts, we now see fewer child deaths from car crashes. While we’ve had some successes, there are still challenges. Sadly, injuries from guns have become the #1 cause of death for kids recently. It’s really important for all families to secure their guns to keep them out of the hands of children. This handbook has information for different ages, so you can learn how to keep your child safe at each stage of their development. We hope you read this and share what you learn with others.

By working together and using safety tips, we can make a safer world where all kids can grow up healthy, happy and injury free.

Thank you for helping us keep Alabama’s children safe!

Kathy Monroe, M.D. | Michele Nichols, M.D. | Jennifer McCain, M.D.

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Children’s of Alabama

Is your home “child safe”?

Do you use the child safety caps on your prescription medicines? Although nothing is completely childproof, child safety caps have been shown to greatly reduce the number of child poisonings. Do you have a working smoke detector? More than 60% of all house fires occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Smoke detectors can alert residents in case of a fire and save lives of children and adults.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

Have you turned your hot water heater down to 120° F?

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Water that is 150° F can cause a severe burn in only two seconds. It would take at least five minutes of contact with 120° F water before any burn occurs.

Do you buckle up safely on every trip by using car seats, boosters or safety belts properly?

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Using car seats, boosters and safety belts can save lives and protect kids from severe injuries. Children grow quickly! Make sure you have the right car seat for every stage of your child’s development. Buckle up your child on every ride—most motor vehicle injuries happen close to home.

If there is a gun in your home, is it stored locked and unloaded with the ammunition stored and locked separately?

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Secure firearm storage helps keep curious young children from accessing your gun, makes it more difficult for anyone considering suicide to access your gun and also protects your gun from being stolen and used by criminals. Do you have the Poison Information Center phone number on your phone or posted near every phone in your house? The Alabama Poison Information Center is available to you free of charge 24 hours a day at 800-222-1222 . Is there a soft surface under your child’s playground equipment? Pebbles, mulch or manufactured soft surfaces can reduce the chance of injury, but nothing can take the place of direct adult supervision.

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Children’s of Alabama

COMMON INJURY TYPES BY AGE

Infants (Birth to 1 Year)

Infants are at a high risk of choking, and all caregivers should learn CPR.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

SAFE SLEEP ABCs of safe sleep:

• Alone: infants should be in their OWN bed. • Back: infants should sleep on their backs. • Crib: cribs should have only a fitted sheet in them (no toys, blankets, etc.). CHOKING • Children can choke on small detachable parts of toys (frequently parts of an older child’s toy, pins, buttons, beads, etc). • Plastic bags can suffocate a child and should be kept away. • Infants should not have nuts, popcorn, uncut grapes and other foods that can be choking hazards. Hot dogs must be cut lengthwise. MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY • Infants and young children should ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat away from airbags. For more details, see page 14. DROWNING • Babies can drown in as little as an inch of water. • Never leave babies alone in the bathroom. • Empty all baby pools and buckets as soon as you are not using them. Apply toilet locks. FIREARMS • Firearms should be kept LOCKED AND UNLOADED with ammunition stored and locked separately. A cable lock is a good method to keep your gun secure.

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Children’s of Alabama

COMMON INJURY TYPES BY AGE

Preschool (Ages 1–5)

Injuries are the leading cause of death in preschoolers, causing more death and disability than all the contagious diseases combined. The preschooler is the great explorer—curious, impulsive, independent, fearless and fast. DROWNING • This is the leading cause of death in children 1–4 years old. Children should always be closely supervised around water. If you have a home pool, it should have a four-sided fence at least 48 inches tall with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Preschoolers should wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket when in and around pools or open water. FIREARMS • Even children as young as 2 years old are capable of pulling a trigger of a gun. Firearms should be kept LOCKED AND UNLOADED with ammunition stored and locked separately. A cable lock is a good method to keep your gun secure.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY • Children should ride in rear-facing car seats until they reach the height or weight limit on the manufacturer’s label. For more details, see motor vehicle section on page 14. POISONING • Preschoolers love to touch and taste, so the risk of poison injury is higher in this age group. Keep all medications, cleaning products and known poisons out of sight/reach of children in your home and in the homes of grandparents and other caregivers. A medication lockbox is an ideal place to store medications. Call poison control immediately if you think your child has had an exposure to a poison/toxin. CHOKING • Hotdogs, peanuts, popcorn and hard candy often cause choking in this age group. Keep these types of foods out of reach of young children. BURN INJURIES • Scald injuries are common for this age, mostly from food or liquids. When drinking hot liquids or eating hot foods, be sure that they are placed in a location in which a child cannot pull or knock down the hot food/liquid onto themselves. • Children in this age rage should

not be using a microwave. If children are too young to follow written directions, they are too young to use a microwave oven without supervision.

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Children’s of Alabama

COMMON INJURY TYPES BY AGE

Elementary (Ages 6–12)

FIREARMS • Firearms should be kept LOCKED AND UNLOADED with ammunition stored and locked separately. A cable lock is a good method to keep your gun secure. Ask about presence and storage of guns in the homes where your child will be playing or visiting. MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY • Children should ride in the back until they are 13 years of age. • Children need to be in booster seats until the lap and shoulder belt fit them properly to prevent injury in a crash. • An alarming number of this age group are hurt on all-terrain Vehicles (called ATVs or four-wheelers). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no child under 16 years old use ATVs because they lack sufficient strength, coordination and judgment to operate them safely. BURNS • Children need supervision while in the kitchen and using the microwave, stove, etc. One of the most common burn injuries in this age group is from spills of scalding hot microwavable individual servings of soups, noodle bowls, etc.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLES & SCOOTERS • Children under 10 should not be allowed to cross the street alone. • Children need to be taught the rules of the road before being allowed to ride on paved roadways. • Bicyclists must wear a helmet at ALL times. Parents wearing helmets while riding bikes help model good behavior for their children. • Helmets protect a child’s head and brain any time they are on wheels— skateboards, skates, hoverboards, scooters, etc. DROWNING • Swimming lessons are very important. Close adult supervision while near or around any water is still a must. CHOKING • Latex balloons are a serious cause of choking and should not be used around children. Mylar balloons are a safer option. SELF-INFLICTED HARM • Strangulation, ingestion and shooting do occur in the elementary age group. For more details, see page 32.

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Children’s of Alabama

COMMON INJURY TYPES BY AGE

Teenagers (Ages 13–19)

FIREARMS • Firearms are THE LEADING CAUSE of death in children. • Firearms should be kept LOCKED AND UNLOADED with ammunition stored and locked separately. • If your teen is dealing with behavioral health issues, it is recommended to remove all firearms and other weapons from the house. DROWNING • Drownings often occur in lakes and other bodies of water when teens are without adequate supervision or use of life jackets.

BURNS • Bonfires and burning trash are common injuries for teens.

POISONINGS • Alcohol and drug abuse are common in this age group. • Poison and prescription medication ingestions are common methods for teen suicide attempts. • Lock medications up to keep them away from teenagers—a medication lockbox is an ideal place to store medications.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY • Driving is a leading cause of teens needing hospitalization due to injuries. • Driving is a complex skill that requires education and lots of practice— at least 50 hours in many different types of settings. Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in teaching their teens to drive! • Speeding, distractions (such as texting or talking on phones, too many passengers, adjusting the radio), teens not wearing seat belts, and drinking and driving are the main causes of serious teen car crashes. • Talk to your teens about safe driving—remind them to wear a seatbelt, drive the speed limit and avoid distractions.

SPORTS INJURIES • This is the most common non-fatal type of injury in teens with injuries, including concussions and broken bones. • Please follow all safety recommendations for the individual sports your child plays.

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Children’s of Alabama

Common situations and important things to remember to help stay safe and avoid injury.

Firearm Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 15

Motor Vehicle Safety . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 16

Drowning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 18

Help for Crying Babies. . . . . . . . . . . .......... 20

Safe Sleep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 22

Falls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. 23

Choking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 24

Burns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................. 25

Helmets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 26

Safety Tips for ATV Riders. . . . . . . . . ......... 27

Poison Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 28

Self-Inflicted Harm. . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 32

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

FIREARM SAFETY

Kids are curious and impulsive. When they find an unsecured gun, they are very likely to handle it—even if they have been instructed to never touch a gun. All children, even those without guns in their home, can be at risk for unintentional firearm injuries. Caregivers should discuss the presence of guns and the method of storage of these guns when their children will be playing or spending time in the homes of friends and family members. Getting in the habit of asking about guns when setting up a playdate or overnight at the homes of others will make this somewhat awkward conversation become easier over time. Adults can protect curious young children and determined depressed teens from injury by always securing their guns, keeping them locked and unloaded with the ammunition stored and locked up separately. !

Gun owners can also protect their guns from being stolen and used in a crime by securely storing their guns in their homes and vehicles.

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Many families hesitate to store their gun because they want to have quick access to the gun in case of emergency. Today there are many reasonably priced options that families can find to store their guns safely. Gun locks, lockboxes, gun safes and even biometric devices are options that will allow for secure storage and access to the gun by only the owner within seconds.

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Children’s of Alabama

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY

Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of injuries in children. Car seats and seat belts can help prevent injuries and deaths caused by car crashes. It is important to buckle up your child on every ride and every time in the right seat for them. Children grow quickly, so making sure you have the right car seat for every stage of your child’s development is important. Rear-Facing The AAP recommends that all infants ride rear-facing, starting with their first ride home from the hospital. All infants and young children should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. Check your car seat. Some seats can stay rear-facing up to 35 pounds.

Forward-Facing with Harness Children should ride in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they outgrow it (can last until they are up to 65 pounds in some models). Booster Seat Children who have reached the height and weight limits of their forward-facing car seat should ride in a booster seat until the adult

seat belt fits correctly, usually not until they are at least 4'9"and weight between 80–100 pounds (8 to 12 years old).

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

Is your child ready to use an adult seat belt?

Does the child sit upright with hips all the way back against the vehicle’s seat back?

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Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle’s seat?

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Is the lap belt below the abdomen, on the top part of the thighs and snug across the hips?

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Is the shoulder belt centered over the shoulder and across the chest?

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Can the child stay seated in this position for the whole trip? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in the car. (Source: www.carseat.org) Q

Seat Belt for Life! Children should ride in the back seat until they are 13 years old. If adults buckle up, they are much more likely to buckle up their child. Set an example of safe driving and riding by buckling up on every trip! NEED HELP WITH YOUR CAR SEAT? Call 1-800-504-9768 to find a car seat inspection station close to you. OPEN: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please leave a message if there is no answer during business hours. Visit the sites below for more detailed instructions about what type and when to change car seats: safekids.org (click on the Ultimate Car Seat Guide) or visit nhtsa.gov.

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Children’s of Alabama

DROWNING

Many kids are drawn to the water and only think of the fun of jumping into a pool, lake or into the ocean. Caregivers should be aware of the dangers around the water for kids of all ages. AROUND THE HOME: Empty bathtubs, buckets and collapsible swimming pools of water when they are no longer being used. Drowning can happen in even a few inches of water, and toddlers have a disproportionately large head, which makes it harder for children to get back up when they fall into water. AT THE POOL: Remove all toys from the water after each use as they can entice children to get into the water when they aren’t being monitored. For children < 5 yo, parents should be in an arm’s reach of their child when in the pool. Children between age 1-3 years old are at the highest risk of drowning and most of them (69%) drown at a time they were not supposed to be in the water. Putting multiple barriers between children and access of water is the best strategy to avoid drowning. Four-sided pool fencing with self-closing and self-latching gates has been proven to be one of the most important protections for kids against drowning. Children benefit from swim lessons starting between age 18 months and 4 years old. Until they become water competent, children should wear a US Coast Guard-approved flotation device when around the pool. Never leave an infant or toddler in a bathroom by themselves.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

AT THE LAKE/RIVER/OCEAN: Children as well as adults should wear US Coast Guard-approved flotation devices throughout the entire time children are near the body of water.

ALL ADULTS SHOULD KNOW HOW TO PROVIDE CPR.

Swim lessons cannot “drown-proof” your child. Nobody should swim alone. One adult should be a “water watcher” in charge of watching the water whenever children are near the water and should have no distractions during this time (no talking with other adults, no cell phone, no alcohol).

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Children’s of Alabama

HELP FOR CRYING BABIES

All newborns cry. It’s normal for a baby to cry 2–3 hours a day in the first 6 weeks. During the first 3 months of life, they cry more than any other time.

You can’t spoil your newborn baby with too much attention. To soothe a crying baby, make sure the baby isn’t hungry and has a clean diaper. Try putting the baby close to your body and take calm, slow breaths. You can also try rocking or walking the baby, offering a pacifier, singing

or talking to them, giving the baby a warm bath, patting/rubbing the baby’s back or try placing the baby in a swing or vibrating seat.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

If a baby in your care won’t stop crying:

Call a friend or relative for support or to take care of the baby while you take a break.

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If nothing else works, put the baby on their back in an empty crib (with no loose blankets or stuffed animals), close the door and check on the baby in 10 minutes. Walk away and do something to try to relax and calm down (wash your face, breathe deeply, listen to music, etc.). Once calmer, you can return to care for the infant.

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Call your doctor if nothing seems to be helping the baby—there may be a medical reason for the fussiness.

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No matter what, no one should ever shake a baby for any reason.

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If you’re worried you might hurt your baby or someone else will, call the national hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) anytime for help.

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Tell anyone caring for your baby to never shake the infant. Share with them the dangers of shaking and safe ways to soothe a baby.

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Children’s of Alabama

SAFE SLEEP

You can help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other causes of injuries and deaths related to sleeping (including suffocation and falls) by applying the ABCs to the environment around your child’s sleeping space. ALONE Babies should always sleep alone in a crib or bassinette. Do not allow infants to share a bed with other children or with adults. BACK Babies should always sleep on their back—for naps and at night. This is the safest place for them, and they are less likely to choke when on their backs. They do not need to be propped up in the crib and do not need to sleep on their side (Tummy time is good for their development when they are awake and not likely to fall asleep). CRIB Babies need to sleep in their own sleeping space on a firm mattress and a well-fitting sheet with nothing else—no bumper pads, no blankets, no stuffed animals, no soft bedding, etc. A B C

*Make sure to discuss this with any caregivers taking care of your baby at your home and other sites.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

FALLS

Most injuries in preschoolers from falls involve stairway and steps as well as from furniture (beds, tables and chairs, etc).

Use only CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) approved high chairs to prevent falls.

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Baby walkers do not help with early walking and can be dangerous around stairs.

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Use window and stairway guards to prevent serious falls in preschoolers.

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Never leave an infant unattended on changing table, bed or crib with the guard rail lowered.

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Children’s of Alabama

CHOKING

Foreign objects sucked into the windpipe is a common cause of injury and death in infants.

Beware of small detachable parts on toys; the government regulates size of infants’ toys but not those of older brothers and sisters.

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Cut food into bite-size pieces and encourage children to chew thoroughly. Playing, singing and other activities should not be allowed while eating.

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Keep coins, peanuts, latex balloons, beads, button batteries, safety pins and baby powder away from infants and small children.

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Chewable medicine should only be used for children over 3 years of age. If your child chokes, do not blindly stick your finger down the throat for a foreign object; this may only force the object farther down the throat.

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LEARN CPR and make sure all caregivers know what to do for a choking victim.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

BURNS

Smoke detectors can save lives. Check them every month and change batteries twice a year when you change your clocks. There should be a smoke detector on every level of your house and outside of bedrooms. Teach children to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes are on fire. Make and PRACTICE escape plans in case of a house fire. Teach children to crawl under the smoke. !

Many fatal fires are started by cigarettes. Cigarette smoke is harmful for kids, so if you must smoke, please smoke outside.

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Keep cords of kitchen appliances and irons from hanging down in reach of a toddler. Keep handles of pots and pans turned inward on the stove and out of reach of little hands.

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Turn hot water temperature down to 120° F to prevent scald burns (30 seconds of 130° F water can cause a severe burn).

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Store gasoline in well-ventilated areas, out of sight and out of reach of curious toddlers. Gas fumes can travel along garage floors and be ignited by a pilot light from heating or hot water heaters.

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Children’s of Alabama

HELMETS

Kids need to get outside and play—it’s so important for them to develop their muscles, get stronger, play with friends and burn off some of that energy! Some activities will put them at higher risk for head injuries. Helmets for these activities will provide the protection they need.

• When riding bikes, scooters, hoverboards or skateboards, kids need to know that these vehicles should never be used without a helmet. • Helmets need to fit correctly to prevent injuries. To keep the helmet from slipping, tighten the chin strap so that only 1 or 2 of your fingers fit between the chin strap and the chin.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

• ATVs move at greater speeds and travel over rough terrain—AAP recommends no children under the age of 16 be on ATVs. For those that choose to ride ATVs, all riders should wear helmets designed for this type of activity. • Sports such as football, baseball and lacrosse require helmets in games as well as during practices. • Be mindful of signs of concussion (headache, vomiting, confusion, difficulty focusing, etc.) after head injuries and seek medical attention if these develop. • Replace a helmet every 4 years, after an impact or when it no longer fits. • During storms, helmets are useful in protecting children and adults from head injuries from falling debris.

Adults modeling the behavior of wearing helmets for activities helps kids see that helmets are important for everyone.

SAFETY TIPS FOR ATV RIDERS

Always wear your helmet. One person at a time. Ride the right size machine. Always wear protective gear. Never ride on the road. Take a safety course.

Tell someone where you are going. Respect private property. Never use alcohol or drugs. Always obey the rules.

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Children’s of Alabama

POISON PREVENTION

Thousands of children are unintentionally poisoned each year. Any non-food item is a potential poison. Many of these children die from swallowing medicines, polishes, insecticides, antifreeze, drain cleaners, plants, and other household and garage products. It is the responsibility of every adult to make sure that children are not exposed to potentially toxic substances.

Follow these rules against poison so that you can do your part in preventing unintentional poisonings in your home:

Request “safety-lock” tops on all prescription drugs.

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Keep household cleaners, bug sprays, medicines and garage products out of reach and out of sight from your child. Lock these products up whenever possible.

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Never store food and household cleaners together.

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Always store medicines in their original containers and throw out medicines no longer in use (Contact your poison center for medication disposal or participate with a local drug take-back program.).

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Do not take medicines in front of your child because children love to imitate “Mommy” and “Daddy.”

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

Never call medicine “candy.”

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Read the label before taking medicine. Never take medicine that is not labeled for you or is not labeled at all. Never take medicine in the dark.

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If you are interrupted while using a medicine or household product, take it with you. It only takes a few seconds for your child to get into it.

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Anticipate what your child will do. For example, if you have a crawling infant, keep household products stored above the floor level, not beneath the kitchen sink.

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Be alert for repeat poisoning. A child who has swallowed a poison is more likely than not to attempt it again within a year.

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Keep the phone number of your doctor, Poison Center, hospital and police near the telephone. Contact the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

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Children’s of Alabama

POISON PREVENTION

Checklist for Poison Proofing Your Home.

Household ❏ Household products such as detergents, drain cleaners and dishwashing compounds removed from under the sink. ❏ No medicines on counters or open areas, refrigerator top or windowsills. ❏ All cleaners, household products and medications out of reach. ❏ All cleaners, household products and medications in original, safety-top containers. Bathroom ❏ Child safety latches on all drawers or cabinets with harmful products. ❏ Medicine chest cleaned out regularly. ❏ Old medicines flushed down toilet or participate with local drug take-back program. ❏ All medicines in original safety-top containers. ❏ All medicines, sprays, powders, cosmetics, fingernail preparations, hair care products and mouthwash, etc., out of reach.

Bedroom ❏ No medicines in or on dresser or bedside table. ❏ All perfumes, cosmetics, powders and sachets out of reach.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook Manual de prevención de lesiones infantiles

Laundry Area ❏ All bleaches, soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, bluing agents and sprays out of reach. ❏ All products in original containers. ❏ All products out of reach.

Garage/Basement ❏ Insect spray and weed killers in locked area. ❏ Gasoline and car products in locked area. ❏ Turpentine, paints and paint products in locked area. ❏ Chemicals in the original containers.

General Household ❏ Alcoholic beverages out of reach. ❏ Ashtrays empty and out of reach.

❏ Plants out of reach. ❏ Paint in good repair. ❏ All household and personal products out of reach.

NATIONWIDE, STATEWIDE and LOCAL – CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-222-1222

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Children’s of Alabama

Toxic or Poisonous Plants

Common Name

Botanical Name

Poisonous Part(s)

Aloe

Aloe vera

all parts

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis Rhododendron species Solanum dulcamara Robinia pseudoacacia Buxus sempervirens Rhamnus cathartica Citrofortunella mitis

uncooked young shoots

Azalea

all parts

Bittersweet Black locust

leaves and fruit

seeds, bark, foliage

Boxplant (Boxwood)

Ieaves, stems

Buckthorn

fruit, leaves, bark fruit peels, thorns

Calamondim orange

Castor

Ricinus

seeds berries

Chinaberry Chokecherry Cotoneaste

Melia azedarach Prunus virginiana

seed or pit fruit, berries

Cotoneaster

Crocus

Colchicum autumnale

all parts, especially bulb

Cyclamen

Cyclamen species Narcissus species Atropa belladonna

tuber, root

Daffodil

all parts, especially bulbs

Deadly nightshade

all parts all parts all parts all parts berries all parts

Dogbane

Apocynum cannabinum Dieffenbachia species Sambucus species Xanthosoma species Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Dumb cane Elderberry Elephant ear

leaves, shoots, bark

Engleman ivy (Virginia creeper)

Eyebane

Euphorbia maculata

Four o’clock

Mirabilis jalapa

root, seeds

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

all parts all parts

Ground ivy

Glechoma hederacea

Holly

IIex aquifolium Aesculus species

leaves, berries

Horse chestnut, buckeye

flowers, sprouts, nuts

Hyacinth

Hyacinthus orientalis Hydrangea species

bulb

Hydrangea

leaves, buds

Iris

Iris species

bulbs, stems, leaves

Jequirity bean

Abrus precatorius

bean, if chewed

Jerusalem cherry

Solanum pseudocapsicum

all parts all parts all parts

Jimson weed

Datura stramonium

Juniper

Juniperus

Kentucky coffee tree

Gymnocladus dioicus Delphinium species

seeds

Larkspur

all parts, especially young plants

Lily of the valley

Convallaria majalis

all parts

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

Common Name

Botanical Name

Poisonous Part(s)

Mistletoe

Phoradendron flavescens

all parts, especially berries

Mushrooms

many types

all parts

Night-blooming jessamine

Cestrum nocturnum

all parts, especially berries leaves, berries, green fruit raw acorns, young shoots all parts, especially seeds

Nightshade

Solanum species Quercus species Nerium oleander

Oak

Oleander

Philodendron Poison hemlock

Philodendron

all parts

Conium maculatum Toxicodendron radicans

all parts, especially roots

Poison ivy

sap from all parts sap from all parts

Poison sumac

Rhus vernix

Pokeweed

Phytolacca americana Euphorbia marginata

all parts all parts

Snow on the mountain

Sumac, poison

Rhus vernix

leaves, fruit

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

leaves

Tulip, blue

Tulipa genus

whole plant, esp. bulbs all parts, especially roots

Water hemlock

Cicuta douglasii Taxus species

Yews

all parts

This list is a collection of common toxic plants. It is not a list of all poisonous plants. CALL THE ALABAMA POISON INFORMATION CENTER, CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA RIGHT AWAY IF ANY ARE EATEN.

Nontoxic or Not Poisonous Plants

African violet ( SaintPaulia ) Bloodleaf plant ( Iresine )

Norfolk pine

Palm

Christmas cactus

Patient lucy ( Impatiens ) Prayer plant ( Leuconeura )

Coleus

Corn plant ( Dracaen a) Dusty miller ( Cineraria ) Devil’s walking stick ( Aralia )

Primula

Purple passion

Schefflera

Gardenia Hibiscus

Snake plant ( Sanseviera ) Spider plant ( Chlorophytum ) Swedish ivy ( Plectrantus ) Umbrella plant ( Schefflera )

Jade plant ( Crassula )

Kalanchoe

Lady’s slipper ( Calceolaria ) Monkey grass ( Liriope ) Nandina aluminum plant ( Pilea )

Velvet plant, Purple passion plant ( Gynura ) Wandering jew, Inch plant (T radesdantia )

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Children’s of Alabama

SELF-INFLICTED HARM

Strangulation, ingestion, shooting and cutting does occur in the pediatric age group. Keep guns and all potential weapons locked up and away from children/teens.

For more information or assistance, call the Suicide Prevention number: 1-800-273-8255.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Poison Control Nationwide, Statewide and Local: 1-800-222-1222 Child Passenger Safety Hotline 1-800-504-9768 (For help installing your car seat)

ThinkFirst Program Julie Farmer Julie.Farmer@childrensal.org, 205-638-2729

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988

For additional copies of the handbook or to order more, please call Children’s of Alabama Strategic Communications and Marketing at 205-638-6660.

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Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

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Children’s of Alabama

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