It’s Poison Prevention Week. 

Poisoning is one of those emergencies most people never expect to face, yet it happens every day. It can occur in seconds, often during routine moments like cleaning the house, taking medication or letting a child explore their surroundings. And because many harmful products are part of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the danger until something goes wrong. When it does, knowing how to recognize the signs and what steps to take can help you act quickly and reduce serious harm.

Potential Signs of Poisoning

Many poison exposures happen at home. Medications, cleaning products, laundry pods, pesticides, antifreeze, carbon monoxide and even some plants can be harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Children, older adults and pets are especially at risk, but poisoning can affect anyone.

Poisoning doesn’t always immediately cause obvious symptoms, and the signs can vary depending on the substance, the amount involved and how it entered the body. Some symptoms show up quickly, while others may take hours.

Click here to learn about these symptoms and what to do if you think someone has been poisoned.