Drugs and medication are the leading cause of poisoning for children in Canada. Other common sources of poisoning for children include fertilizers; pesticides; cleaning products; vitamins; cosmetics such as make-up, hair products and nail polish remover; alcohol; and tobacco.
Between 2004 and 2013, 1,113 Saskatchewan children under 20 years of age were hospitalized due to unintentional poisoning.
Simple safety measures can be taken to ensure a child does not suffer an injury due to poisoning. Make changes around your home to help prevent unintentional poisoning:
Hazard symbols are used on products to help identify dangerous materials.
Hazard symbols have three parts:
1. Picture
The picture tells you the type of danger.
EXPLOSIVE
The container can explode if heated or punctured. Flying pieces of metal or plastic
from the container can cause serious injury, especially to your eyes.
CORROSIVE
The product can burn your skin or eyes. If swallowed, it can damage your throat and stomach.
FLAMMABLE
The product or its fumes will catch fire easily if it is near heat, flames, or sparks. Rags used with this product may begin to burn on their own.
POISON
If you swallow, lick, or, in some cases, breathe in the chemical, you could become very sick or die.
2. Frame
The shape of the frame around the hazard symbol tells you what part of the product is dangerous.
If it’s a triangle, it means that the container is dangerous (e.g., the container is explosive).
If it’s an octagon, it means the contents are dangerous (e.g., the contents are corrosive).
3. Signal Words
The signal word(s) underneath the hazard symbol explain the degree of risk:
Signal Word – DANGER EXPLOSIVE
The meaning of the signal words are as follows.
Cannabis is also known as weed, marijuana, hashish, hash, and pot. Children are at risk of poisoning if they eat or drink items containing cannabis. Cannabis poisoning in children is most common when children mistake foods containing cannabis for regular foods (e.g., gummy bears, brownies, lollipops, sweet drinks). Even small doses of cannabis can be dangerous to children. Smaller children are at higher risk of cannabis poisoning because of their smaller size and weight, which makes them more sensitive to the active ingredient in cannabis (THC or tetrahydrocannabinol). The effects of cannabis poisoning are also more severe in younger children. Potential harms associated with cannabis poisoning include respiratory distress and admission to intensive care units.
Signs of cannabis poisoning include:
It is important to know that cannabis that is eaten or drank takes longer than smoked marijuana to have an effect on the body and brain. It usually takes 30-60 minutes after being eaten to start showing effects, with the peak effects being 3-4 hours after being eaten. The delayed side effects can result in someone eating more of the product, leading to a more severe poisoning.
Older children and teens can also be poisoned by cannabis. For more information on how to talk about cannabis with youth, visit Talking Pot with Youth.
Keep all cannabis, including edibles out of the reach of children. If they can reach it, they will likely eat it. Children will not be able to see or taste the difference between an edible and a regular treat. An edible may taste really good, and a child may eat a large amount quickly.
Store all cannabis products in a locked space out of the sight and reach of children. If possible, store them in the original packing or in child-resistant containers that are clearly labelled.
Never consume cannabis in any form in front of children, either for medical or recreational purposes. Children like to imitate the actions of adults.
Talk with family members, friends, and others who care for your children. Ask anyone whose home your children spend time in to store any cannabis products safely and to not use them in front of your children.
Keep the number of your local poison control centre near your phone and store the number in your contacts. If you suspect your child has eaten a cannabis product, contact Saskatchewan’s Poison Centre at 1-866-454-1212 immediately. If your child is not conscious, dial 911.
A joint report by Parachute and Injury Prevention Centre describing the current poisoning problem in Canada. Data from poison centre calls, ED visits, hospitalizations and deaths is presented. The report also highlights poisoning prevention best practices, current Canadian initiatives and recommendations for further action.
