Calling the Poison Control Center

I’d like to thank the friendly voice at my local Poison Control Center for helping me and my son.  It turned out not to be an emergency, but I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t called.  The number to reach my local Poison Control Center – and yours (in the US) – is 1-800-222-1222.  Keep that number posted near your phone for easy reference.

TJ was playing by himself on the floor with his back to me amongst a mess of boxes and toys he’d dumped all over the floor.  Then he came over to me and handed me the open jar of Aquaphor ointment and the lid.  I don’t know if I’d forgotten to close it after changing his diaper or if he managed to get it open.  His fingers were covered in Aquaphor, so I grabbed a napkin and started wiping it up.

That’s when I noticed he had Aquaphor on his mouth, and that he was chewing.  It didn’t look like he could’ve swallowed even as much as I’d put on his bottom, but the container said to call Poison Control, so I did.

I told the woman what he had eaten and how old he is.  She told me that, even though the container has the warning, it is not actually toxic.  If he’d eaten a lot of it, he would probably have a tummyache and diarrhea, but I wouldn’t have to worry about anything more serious.

I am very grateful for the woman from Poison Control on the other end of the phone line. I guess it’s good to have a non-emergency as my first (and hopefully only) experience with Poison Control.  I’m going to be more careful about things within TJ’s reach – even those things needed to change his diapers all day long.  Trouble can develop so quickly!

Christina Gleason (976 Posts)

That’s me: Christina Gleason. I’m a writer, editor, and disability advocate. I'm a multiply disabled autistic lady doing my best in this world built for abled people. I’m a geek for grammar, fantasy, and casual gaming. I hate vegetables. I cannot reliably speak, so I’ll happily conduct business over email or messaging instead.