California Poison Control System Calls on Families to Prioritize Safety

Held every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) recognizes and honors family caregivers nationwide, and California Poison Control (CPCS) encourages everyone to observe this annual event.

Stepping up to provide unpaid care for other people is something millions of Americans are doing every day. In fact, a study jointly conducted by National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP Family Caregiving™ found that more than 53 million Americans are currently family caregivers. That means approximately one in five people are providing care, primarily for older adults and people with disabilities.

"CPCS offers a downloadable medicine chart to help caregivers for older adults effectively manage those medications," says Dr. Rais Vohra, Medical Director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS. "The chart also contains medicine safety tips and is available in both English and Spanish."

CPCS can also support caregivers of older adults by providing information about:

1. Pill identification

2. Medication errors

3. Adverse reactions to medicine

4. Medication interactions

"Often poisonings in older adults and kids happen when caregivers are at home but distracted," adds Dr. Vohra. "In fact, poisonings with medicines are among the most dangerous potential poisons.

Here are just a few medicine safety tips to help prevent accidental poisoning:

Older Adults

1. Store medicine properly and check expiration dates.

2. Take medicine as prescribed and with input from your healthcare professional.

3. Be aware of potential medicine interactions and side effects.

4. Keep a list of all medicines, including over the counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements.

Children

5. Keep all medicine in their original container with child-resistant caps.

6. Store medicines locked up, out of sight and reach at all times.

7. Never take medicine in front of children.

8. Keep purses or bags that have medications off the floor, out of sight and reach of children.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Dr. Rais Vohra, Medical Director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS, is available for phone and zoom interviews. To book an interview, please call (310.313.3444) or text (818.613.1951) Elaine Murphy, Tellem Grody PR, [email protected]

About CPCS

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (number is the same in all states) for questions about poison encounters. Trained pharmacists, nurses and other providers are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free, confidential and interpreters are available. Get weekly tips about safety by texting TIPS to 20121 for English or texting PUNTOS to 20121 for Spanish. Follow CPCS on Facebook and on Twitter @poisoninfo. CPCS is part of the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy and is responsible to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.

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