“40% of our calls involve children”: Jacksonville poison center warns of hazards ahead of holidays

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Poison Information Center is receiving an influx of calls as we head into the holidays. Experts want to warn parents to watch out for dangerous toys and hazardous holiday décor.

”I mean, you have to be smart,” Rebecca Brown said. “I don’t have children anymore, but I do have this cute, little doxin that runs round and gets into everything.”

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Medical experts said it is important to child and pet-proof your homes.

”About 40% of our calls involve children under the age of 6, so it’s a good chunk. That peak age is that 2 to 3, because they’re exploring their environment. They’re checking everything out,” Dr. Dawn Sollee said. She’s the director of the Florida Poison Information Center in Jacksonville.

Dr. Sollee said the center gets an influx of calls around the holiday.

”A lot of people are traveling,” Sollee said. “They’re out of their typical, normal routine, so you can have medication mistakes and mishaps.”

Some mishaps are minor.

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”You’d be surprised at how many people we get that brush their teeth with muscle rub, because they’re not paying attention,” Sollee said.

Other mishaps can be deadly. A common choking hazard this time of the year are button batteries found in most toys.

”You can have issues with some of those old ornaments and lead-based paint,” Sollee said.

You can learn more about hazards around the holidays here or call 1-800-222-1222 if it’s an emergency.

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