As Seen On TV: Button Battery Dangers

Hot Off The Press!

With over a decade of service...did you even know we where here? The Georgia Poison Center's 2009 Annual Report answers this question. We provide you play by play as to what we have done over the past year...and decade. To view a copy of this year's annual report, please click the link below:

Georgia Poison Center 2009 Annual Report

Are You A Cyberchondriac?

With a vast majority of the population having access to the Internet, you essentially have the largest library at your fingertips. Search engines allow you to find instructions on how to install a carburetor in your car to seeing what your favorite celebrity is doing right that second. But what happens when you use this tool to diagnose medical conditions based on your current symptoms. You may just be a cyberchondriac.

What is a cyberchondriac? According to Wikipedia, Cyberchondria refers to the unfounded escalation of concerns about common symptomology based on review of search results and literature online. There are popular websites that offer a wealth of medical knowledge allowing you to relate signs and symptoms to particular medical conditions. However, the use of search engines can allow the common Internet surfer to land on websites that might not offer such researched findings.

It is always best to rely on medical advice given by a trained medical professional, especially in a situation involving poisonings. The faster you react to a possible exposure to a harmful substance the faster you can receive the right steps to take in order to treat it at home or seek more advanced care. The Georgia Poison Center not only answers questions relating to poisonings but can also offer general information regarding any substance that you may have questions about.

We are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to offer you FREE advice you can count on.

What's Bugging You?

This is the time of year where not only our friends and family join us for fun outdoor activities, but so do insects. After all, we are in their natural habitat! There are many ways to combat that irritating bite from a mosquito or two, but most commonly is the use of insect repellent. Insect repellent can be found as an aerosol spray or an oil or lotion. Its secret weapon is in its active ingredient, DEET. There is usually a scientifically complex reason as to why DEET is so effective, but recent studies show that Mosquitos actually dislike the smell of it. I am sure your kids will agree!

While sold in different concentrations, products with a higher concentration of DEET will provide a longer time of protection. A few precautions when using insect repellent:
 Apply only as directed on the container’s label.
 Do not allow children to handle repellents.
 Do not apply to open cuts or wounds.
 Do not spray directly into face.
 Do not apply to eyes and mouth.

If you have any questions regarding the use of insect repellent, call the Georgia Poison Center at 1.800.222.1222.