The Poison 411 You Need

Soapy hands. Poison 411

When accidents happen, you need to know what to do and how to do it. Here’s your Poison 411 for different kinds of exposures to common household products.


Managing ingestions and oral exposures

The most important thing to do when an accidental ingestion occurs is to stay calm. Remember that most household products don’t taste very good. Whether the ingester is a curious toddler or a distracted adult, they’ll usually stop as soon as they realize their mistake.


Managing eye exposures

Most household products can irritate eyes and a few have the potential to cause real harm. Prompt irrigation with plain water is vital, and it needs to continue long enough to be effective.


Managing skin exposures

Your skin is your largest organ, and it does a very good job of protecting everything inside you. Some products are caustic enough to damage your skin but very few are absorbed into your body.


Like what you’ve read here? Buy the book!

Cover of The Commonsense Guide to Everyday Poisons

An informative, fun and useful guide to more than 80 common household products

This indispensable book was written by a poison specialist. Finally—accurate, useful information you can trust.

You’ll find detailed ingredients, safety information and advice on managing accidental exposures.

More than just a first aid how-to, The Commonsense Guide to Everyday Poisons explains what ingredients are, where they come from and what they do.

Historical and surprising information is often included, as well as suggestions for DIY projects.

Now you can make informed decisions about the products you want in your home—and be prepared for the kind of accidental exposures that can happen at any time.

Where to buy the book