Poison Prevention Awareness Week Begins

That washing detergent or Asprin might seem like an innocent item in your kitchen cabinet, but they can actually be dangerous threats to your health. If consumed inappropriately, many household items are poisonous.

This week, the Maryland Poison Center is taking advantage of national Poison Prevention Week to remind Marylanders of the dangers present in their own homes.

According to the Center, more than 35,000 Maryland residents called their hotline to report human exposure to poisonous substances in 2010. An additional nearly 25,000 people called to ask questions about potential dangers, according to a press release from the Maryland Poison Center.

Of those callers, nearly half were about cases involving children 6-years-old and younger, 13 percent involved individuals 6 - 19 years old, 32 percent were people 20 - 59 and 7 percent involved seniors above 60.

Callers most frequently described poison from acetaminophen or ibuprofen, sedatives, antidepressants, heart medicines and alcohols.

If you believe you or someone near you has been poisoned or you have a question about a potentially poisonous substance, call the Poison Center hotline at 1-800-222-1222.