Washington Poison Center

11/21/2025

While Thanksgiving is still a week away, it takes some advance planning to thaw your turkey safely.🍗

Don’t leave your turkey on the countertop because once it starts to thaw, bacteria can grow quickly. The safest way to thaw your turkey is in the refrigerator, allowing about 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds at a temp of 40 °F or below.

📆 Plan your thaw! Move your turkey from the freezer to the fridge on the following dates based on its weight:

20-24lb ➡️ Nov. 21
16-19lb ➡️ Nov. 22
12-15lb ➡️ Nov. 23
4-12lb ➡️ Nov. 24

The turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days before cooking.

Get more turkey thawing details at: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/turkey-basics-safe-thawing

Wishing you a safe and delicious Thanksgiving meal! 😋

11/20/2025

We’re excited to be featured on Washington Health Alliance’s blog yesterday with thoughtful and timely article about how we save millions in healthcare costs.

When the public calls our Poison Helpline, we keep nearly 93% of them safely at home, avoiding a costly trip to the ER. When healthcare facilities call us to consult on cases, we help avoid hospital admissions and shorten stays. We are proud to play a vital role in our state’s public health safety net, and we’re dedicated to continuing our work that keeps people safe and reduces strain on our healthcare system.

Read the full story here:

Every year, Washington Poison Center fields more than 120,000 calls that help to divert people from emergency rooms.

11/19/2025

The time has come when the rainy-season sniffles hit hard in the PNW. 🌧️ If you’re down for the count, be careful with symptom relief: acetaminophen is in 600+ medications, and it’s surprisingly easy to take too much when you’re feeling awful or mixing products for multiple symptoms. 🤧

Taking too much acetaminophen overwhelms the liver and can be life-threatening within days if untreated.

Prevent accidental overdose: 💊

✅ Check every medication label for “acetaminophen,” “APAP,” or “acetam.”
✅ Don’t combine multiple medicines that contain acetaminophen.
✅ Only use the dosing tool that comes with the product.
✅ Don’t give kids adult-strength acetaminophen or other products.
✅ Mark the level on liquid medicines after each dose so you know how much is left, in case a child accidentally drinks it.
✅ Store all medications out of children's reach and secure caps tightly.

When to get help:

📲 If you think too much was taken—even with no new symptoms—call the poison center at 1-888-222-1222 right away.

🏥 If a rapidly rising fever or breathing trouble develops, call 911 immediately.

This flu season, stay informed, stay safe, and call us anytime – day or night! 1-800-222-1222.

11/15/2025

Stop by to say Hola today in south Everett! 👋

11/13/2025

to McDreamy standing in front of our Poison Help poster 😍💚 Even TV doctors know what to do in a real-life poison emergency: call 1-800-222-1222! You’ll reach real medical experts who can help you day and night. Because while Grey’s Anatomy might have all the drama, poisonings in real life don’t need to. 😉

11/13/2025

🚗As it starts getting cold, many of us are prepping our cars for winter weather, which may include topping off engine coolant. While it’s a lifesaver for engines, it can be life-threatening for humans and animals. Antifreeze often contains ethylene glycol, a highly toxic chemical with a deceptively sweet taste. If swallowed, it can cause multi-organ damage and can be fatal.

How to stay safe this winter:

❄️ Keep antifreeze in its original container with the cap tightly closed.
❄️ Store it up and out of reach of children and pets.
❄️ Dispose of used antifreeze following local hazardous waste rules.
❄️ Clean up any spills immediately — the sweet smell can be tempting to kids and pets and even a tiny amount is dangerous.

⚠️ Last year, Washington Poison Center responded to 217 calls about antifreeze exposure. If you suspect an ingestion, call our free Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222, 24/7/365.

🐾 If you think an animal has been exposed, call ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply) or go to the emergency vet.

11/13/2025

Join us and Stilly Valley Health Connections this Friday to get the most recent cannabis info, facts, and trends in this interesting and informative session! See details and link to register below.

11/11/2025

Today we honor the courage, commitment, and sacrifice of those who have served our country.

We’re deeply grateful and proud to serve our community 24/7/365, especially the veterans and families who call Washington home.

We are here to help, today and everyday: 1-800-222-1222.

11/10/2025

🍼 Infant Botulism Outbreak Alert and Formula Recall

Updated 11/12/25
The CDC has reported 15 cases of infant botulism linked to ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. All ByHeart Whole Nutrition formula has been recalled after cases were confirmed in 12 states, including Washington.

If you use this formula, throw it away immediately, wash any surfaces it touched, and watch your baby for symptoms like constipation, weak cry, floppiness, or feeding trouble.

Learn more and get safety guidance from our experts:
👉 https://www.wapc.org/healthalerts/infantbotulism/

You can always call us at 1-800-222-1222 if you have questions or concerns. Our staff of nurses, pharmacists, and doctors are here for you, 24/7/365.

11/09/2025

Ringo Starr rocks this week’s WAPC Pet Ambassador post!

🐾 Ringo is about 5 and a half or 6 years old, half Labrador, a quarter German Shepherd, and a quarter “super mutt,” whose human is public educator, Alex.

Sweet, awkward, and always adorably confused, Ringo wears a resting angst face even when he’s happy as a clam. 😅

He’s got big opinions: absolutely loves cats, but hates raccoons—he once leapt a bramble-covered fence just to give one a piece of his mind. 🐱🦝

Despite his “retriever” genetics, his fetching is questionable. Sometimes he’ll proudly bring back a ball or stick… other times, he gets distracted and just lies down to chew it.

Alex fondly admits Ringo is a “lovable idiot;” problem-solving is not his forte. But, having him around helps Alex’s brain power! Their walks give Alex a chance to contemplate work stuff or take a mental break and return clear and refreshed! Plus, he’s such a goofball, he reminds Alex to try not taking things too seriously.

Thanks to Ringo’s daily dose of goofiness and heart, Alex brings fresh energy and inspiration to every public education program he develops. 😍 🐕

11/08/2025

REAL CALLER STORY: Soap, Not Snack!

Laundry pod exposures are common! Their shiny, sparkly swirls must be attractive to kids: in 2024, we received 256 calls for exposures involving children 6 and under.

In this typical case, Mom was doing laundry, and her 2-year-old toddler was "helping" her. He saw a Tide Pod and decided to bite it (as toddlers do). Most of the time, when kids bite into laundry pods, they get detergent inside their mouths and around their faces. If it sits on the skin for a long time, it can cause irritation or a rash.

When Mom called us, we advised her to rinse his mouth and give him a bath to thoroughly wash his face, and we told her other symptoms to watch for: nausea, vomiting, and an upset stomach.

Generally, that's the extent of the danger. However, there is a chance that when a pod is bitten into (or when the child is vomiting), detergent could enter the lungs and lead to coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing—a potentially life-threatening emergency.

We called Mom back the next day to check on her son. Luckily, following his initial clean-up, he had no further symptoms, did not develop any skin irritation, had no vomiting, and was behaving normally. Good news! 😀

If your kiddo sneaks a Tide Pod (or anything else inedible) into their mouth, call us right away at 1-800-222-1222. We’ll tell you exactly what to do and what to watch for.

11/06/2025

On Monday, Washington Poison Center participated in a HazMat (hazardous materials) disaster planning exercise with the Snohomish County Health Department, along with many other public health and safety experts.

We're honored to work with the many dedicated public service groups who ensure the health and safety of our communities every day.

While the odds of a disaster happening are low, it's important to be prepared. Washington Poison Center is available to answer questions about the health impacts of chemical and pharmaceutical exposures 24/7/365, and we are proud to provide our services to the general public, to healthcare professionals, and to emergency response agencies free of charge!

Whether it's providing advice and support after an accidental mixing of two cleaning products at home or after a chemical spill on the interstate, we’re here to answer your questions. Just call us at 1-800-222-1222.

We live up to our motto- always here, always ready!