The University of New Mexico

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    NM Poison & Drug Information Center

    MSC 07 4390
    1 University of New Mexico
    Albuquerque, NM 87131

    Physical Location:
    UNM Business Center - 1650 University NE
    Suite 4200

    Phone: (505) 272-4261
     Fax: (505) 272-5892

    Authorities warn caregivers to keep poisons in their original containers to avoid confusion

    February 8, 2013 - Linda Camarillo, Tucson News Now

    A tragedy in California has local firefighters sending out a warning this morning. A grandmother recently gave her grandson a water bottle in the car, but inside that bottle wasn't water, it was a poisonous liquid and the child died.

    That is why the Tucson Fire Department wants to send a warning to the community. 

    Thankfully Tucson has not had any deaths, but there have been several close calls. TFD says they had 11 poisoning incidents involving children just in December. In many cases it can be a family member reaching for an unlabeled bottle thinking its water. In other cases it's kids reaching out for containers themselves.

    As TFD Capt. Barrett Baker sums it up, "They don't understand, it can be a really dangerous situation." So make sure to keep dangerous fluids in their original container and out of reach of children.

    If you think your child drank a poisonous fluid call 911 immediately, do not try to make them throw up.