What is a poison?
A poison is any substance that can harm your body, make you sick, or kill you if used in the wrong way.
Poisons can enter your body four ways:
- Mouth
- Nose
- Skin
- Eyes
Today, you are far more likely to be poisoned by using something in your medicine cabinet the wrong way than you are by a poisonous critter or plant. Most poisonings involve common everyday household items such as medicines, cleaning supplies, cosmetics or personal care items. Poisoning is a leading cause of injury in the United States second only to motor vehicle crashes. Most of the increase is attributable to the rising number of poison deaths involving pain medications. More than 90% of poison deaths were medication-related.
Also in this Section
Recent News
- 5/02/13 University Medical Center Foundation Announces $30,000 Grant From The Susan G. Komen Foundation For Sobreviviendo El Cancer De Seno Program
- 5/02/13 UMC Foundation Awarded $95,000 Grant From The Marsh Foundation To Purchase Halo System To Treat Patients With Esophageal Cancer
- 5/02/13 University Medical Center Foundation Awarded $343,422 Grant From Medcares To Support El Paso Children's Hospital Child Abuse Clinic.
- 3/20/13 $40,000 Gift To Be Presented To Dr. Bradley Furhman, Physician-In-Chief At El Paso Children's Hospital
- 2/28/13 University Medical Center Foundation Awarded $3,000 Grant From Shiloff Foundation
