Water beads love water. These superabsorbent toys grow many times their original size when placed in water, to the delight of many children. Before water beads get wet, they look like colorful hard candies or necklace beads. Small children, who can pick up and place small things in their mouths, are at serious risk of ... more ..read more

Sit, stay, heel… but what about, “Don’t touch that! It might be poisonous!”? Long summer days mean more time for everyone to spend outside—including our furry, fluffy and curious canine companions. With summer comes unique situations that might cause your dog harm. We turned to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) for their guidance ... more ..read more

Who likes gummies, chocolate, candy, cookies or brownies? We do! We do! While most everyone loves sweet treats, curious and hungry toddlers are most prone to get into trouble when finding a treat that’s actually a cannabis product. The number of unintentional exposures to cannabis edibles, especially gummies, has increased since Illinois legalized cannabis products ... more ..read more

Who’s ready for a road trip! Spring, summer, fall or winter—there’s no bad time to explore new places and visit family and old friends. With all the excitement of hitting the road, it’s easy to let your guard down when it comes to poison prevention. But mishaps can happen when you’re packing and on the ... more ..read more

Kids are curious, rambunctious and full of energy. They get into everything! But what if they got their little hands on your cannabis gummies? One parent recently called the Illinois Poison Center because their 2-year-old discovered a colorful bag of what she thought were gummy candies in her parents’ nightstand. Within an hour of devouring ... more ..read more

Foodie, newbie or old pro? Whether you’re preparing your first holiday feast or your 15th, there’s a lot to consider. Most home cooks want to serve a meal that wows even the most hard-to-please guest. There’s another way to make them happy, though: Don’t make them sick… as nothing can ruin a holiday get-together more ... more ..read more

Do you have high-powered magnet toys or kits at home? Are you considering buying these magnet toys or kits for kids to create pyramids or other creations? If so, be exceedingly careful if you have children in the home as these products can pose a significant danger if swallowed. Why small high-powered magnets can turn ... more ..read more

Have you ever been dared or challenged to do something that seemed harmless but turned out to be risky? If so, you’re not alone. Sometimes people feel pressured to accept a challenge that involves eating or drinking large amounts of something – often common products around the house. Participating in a challenge, though, could put ... more ..read more

A common reaction many people have when a child ingests something potentially harmful is to make them throw up. Our parents did it and it seems like a natural instinct, but inducing vomiting is not always the best course of action. Historically, we would make children vomit with syrup of ipecac (SOI). The idea was ... more ..read more

Feeling overheated under the hot summer sun is a common experience. But for some people, experiencing a spike in body temperature—known as hyperthermia—can result from taking certain medications. A recent medical journal article discussed a case of a person whose body temperature reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit while on multiple medications. Fortunately, this patient recovered but ... more ..read more