Washington Records Spike In Poisonings During Coronavirus

SEATTLE, WA — Poisonings are on the rise in Washington as more households keep potentially hazardous cleaning supplies on-hand during the coronavirus pandemic. The Washington Poison Center this week launched a new dashboard to track the growing trend, finding increases above 50 percent in exposures among children and related to the misuse of cleaning products.

The new dashboard tracks the rise in exposures tied specifically to household cleaning and disinfectant products, bleach, rubbing alcohol, and hand sanitizer, comparing data from the state's helpline from the first four months of 2019 with the same timeframe in 2020.

Key findings

• Hand sanitizer exposures rose 52 percent among children ages 0-12 years old.
• Exposures from the misuse of household cleaning products, bleach and rubbing alcohol increased 53 percent.
• Suspected suicide cases from all substances increased 10 percent.

The Washington Poison Center said 87 percent of patients that were exposed to household products, bleach and rubbing alcohol were treated at home by health care professionals, keeping them out of the emergency room.

Washington's poison hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by nurses and pharmacists trained in toxicology. They can be reached at 1-800-222-1222 to assist with all poison-related emergencies or questions about potential hazards. All calls are kept confidential.

"We appreciate the confidence that the public and healthcare providers place in us by calling when potentially toxic exposures and overdoses occur," says Dr. Erica Liebelt, the poison center's executive director. "By calling us, we are able to compile data, analyze trends, and provide relevant, timely education to communities and public health partners on emerging risks and prevention strategies."

Poison prevention tips

• Wear gloves when cleaning, and open windows and doors for ventilation.
• Do not mix cleaning products, which can create hazardous gases.
• Never use cleaning products on food.
• Store cleaners, household chemicals, hand sanitizer, and other potentially harmful substances in their original containers, up high, and out of reach of children.
• Supervise children when using hand sanitizer to prevent ingestion or eye exposure.
• Wash face coverings with soap and water. Never soak or spray maks with bleach, disinfectants, or other cleaning chemicals.

Learn more at the Washington Poison Center website.