National Poison Prevention Awareness Week (March 15 – March 21)

Published on March 17, 2026

Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is sharing with the community poison prevention awareness information during this year’s National Poison Prevention Week (March 15 – March 21, 2026).

The Upstate New York Poison Center (based in Syracuse, N.Y.) is your local poison center, providing fast, free, confidential poison expertise 24/7/365. The Upstate New York Poison Center is one of 53 poison centers nationwide that make up America’s Poison Centers, a network dedicated to poison response and prevention. Research shows that poison centers play a critical role in saving lives and reducing healthcare costs, with every dollar invested in poison centers saving an estimated $16.77 in medical costs and lost productivity. Anyone can call the Upstate New York Poison Center at any time with a poison emergency or question at 1-800-222-1222. 

Information from the Upstate New York Poison Center shows that the majority of poisonings in Tompkins County have been unintentional, often related to misuse of over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), especially among the infant, children and adolescent age groups. The misuse is commonly cited as either from taking the medication accidentally or by taking an incorrect dosage. Medications (as well as other household items) often look very similar to common candies or foods, so it is important to make sure that medications are out of reach or locked, to limit unsupervised access by children. Never assume a child cannot open a “child-proof” cap. Helpful educational tools to teach children about poison prevention, including age-appropriate videos and games, are available online at: https://www.upstate.edu/poison/community/children.php.

For adults, most poisonings involve prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbals, and vitamins. Most older adults do not consider taking too much medicine as a “poisoning”. It is recommended to always be mindful of safe medication use practices. Ask yourself the following questions when taking any medication, vitamin or supplement:

• What is the name of the medicine?
• What is the medicine for?
• How often do I take the medicine?
• What are the possible side effects?
• What should I do if I miss a dose of my medicine?
• While taking this medicine, should I avoid drinking alcohol, driving, eating certain foods or drinking certain juices, taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications, vitamins, herbals, or minerals?

The Upstate New York Poison Center advises the public to call the center, at any time of any day, by dialing 1-800-222-1222. In a poison emergency, every second counts. It is faster to call 1-800-222-1222 than to search for “what to do” online, and you will be connected to trained medical experts who can give you the right answer immediately. 90% of calls regarding those age 0-5 usually do not end up requiring a doctor’s appointment or an emergency room visit, which can save you time, stress and resources, in addition to keeping healthcare facilities available for actual emergencies.

If you would like to obtain a free Upstate New York Poison Center magnet, please stop by TCWH during National Poison Prevention Week (northeast Ithaca: 55 Brown Rd.; downtown Ithaca: 201 E. Green St.). Schools and organizations can request free educational materials from the Poison Center, such as magnets, pencils and handouts, online at: https://www.upstate.edu/poison/poison-prevention/request-form.php. Brochures and handouts are available in multiple languages.

_{Tompkins County Whole Health: envisioning a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X. Sign up to receive Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text.} 

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