When the unexpected happens, poison help is here for you
National Poison Prevention Week: March 15-21
When a toddler sprayed household cleaner into his own face, his mother didn’t hesitate — she picked up the phone.
“I was holding him and trying not to panic,” recalled Erika Padilla of Mesquite. “His face was red and irritated, and I thought it was straight bleach.”
Instead of rushing to the emergency room, Padilla called the North Texas Poison Center housed at Parkland Health at 1-800-222-1222. Within seconds, she was connected to a poison expert who calmly walked her through what to do: rinse his eyes and wash his face with water. They asked her to read the product label aloud and reassured her that the cleaner was diluted. Her son would be fine.
“They were so calm,” Padilla said. “You could tell they knew exactly what they were talking about.”
Padilla has called the poison center three times — and each time, she says, that calm voice on the other end of the phone made all the difference.
In another instance, her young son grabbed a bottle of tire cleaner that carried a frightening warning label stating that death could occur if swallowed.
“It freaked me out,” she said, recalling that day.
Again, poison specialists carefully assessed the situation, asked detailed questions and advised her to monitor her son. He was fine.
The third call came when her daughter — whom Padilla lovingly describes as “a climber” — scaled a cabinet, retrieved a bottle of children’s over-the-counter allergy medicine and attempted to pour herself a dose after watching her mother administer it before. While much of the liquid spilled onto the floor, Padilla didn’t want to take chances.
Poison specialists reassured her that her daughter might experience a mild stomach ache but would likely be fine with monitoring at home.
What stood out to Padilla wasn’t just the medical expertise — it was the follow-up.
“They called back to check on my kids,” she said. “That meant so much. I was able to relax knowing everything was going to be OK.”
National Poison Prevention Week, March 15–21, highlights the critical role poison centers play in protecting families. This year’s theme — “When the unexpected happens, poison help is here for you” — reflects exactly what Padilla experienced.
Poison centers provide:
- Free, confidential, expert guidance 24/7
- Immediate access to specially trained nurses, pharmacists, and physicians
- Real-time treatment recommendations tailored to the specific product and exposure
- Follow-up calls to ensure patient safety
- Prevention education to keep families safe
More than 90% of poison exposures occur in the home, and many can be safely managed there with expert guidance. Calling a poison center often prevents unnecessary emergency room visits, saving families time, stress and healthcare costs.
The National Poison Help line — 1-800-222-1222 — automatically connects callers to their regional poison center.
As spring approaches, families should also be mindful of additional hazards. Snakes emerging from hibernation, increased spider activity and exposure to outdoor chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides can pose new risks.
Parents of toddlers should also remember that curiosity can turn into danger in seconds.
“You have to be on top of everything when you have toddlers around,” Padilla said. “In an instant, they can get into things.”
She now keeps a magnet with the poison center number on her refrigerator and frequently reminds friends to do the same.
“You never know when you might need it,” she said. “It’s comforting to know help is just a phone call away.”
For more information about the North Texas Poison Center, visit www.poisoncontrol.org. To find out about services at Parkland, go to www.parklandhealth.org.
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