The vast majority of poisonings or suspected poisonings occurred in the home, and most calls involved children, according to the National Poison Information Center’s 2023 report.
The National Poisoning Information Center, operating at the RAMBAM hospital, received about 44 thousand calls in 2023. 53% of calls were related to children under 18 years of age. Among children, the vast majority (83% of cases among children or 44.2% of all calls) concerned children from birth to six years of age, and in 56% of cases these were boys.
92% of cases occurred at home, 3% outside the home and 1% in educational institutions. In 82% of cases, exposure to toxic substances occurred through ingestion, 5% through contact with the eyes, and 3% through inhalation. 47.5% of cases were associated with drugs, 47.5% with chemicals (cleaning products, disinfectants, etc.), and 5% with exposure to poisonous plants and animals.
To reduce the likelihood of poisoning, the Ministry of Health and the National Poison Information Center recommend following the following rules:
– cleaning products must be stored in a closed cabinet, closed after use and returned to their place.
– medications should be stored in a closed box, out of the reach and sight of children.
– children should take medications only under parental supervision; upon completion, the packaging should be returned to its place.
– children should not be allowed to play with medicines, as many manage to open even “child-proof” caps.
– Do not pour cleaning products into other containers, especially drinking glasses and bottles.
– medications taken orally (by mouth) in the form of drops, including vitamins and iron, should first be dropped into a spoon and then given to the child; do not drop from a bottle into the mouth.
– you should not pass off medicines or vitamins as sweets in order to convince your child to take them.
– plants, flowers and mushrooms can be poisonous, do not let kids play with them.
In case of poisoning or suspected poisoning, you should contact the National Poison Information Center for advice by calling 04-7771900. Contrary to popular belief, in case of poisoning or suspected poisoning, you should not try to induce vomiting yourself. In case of difficulty breathing, convulsions or loss of consciousness, you should immediately call Magen David Adom on 101.