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National Poison 
Prevention Week


The third full week in March each year is National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), a week dedicated to raising awareness to poison control centers and the Poison Help Hotline (1-800-222-1222). NPPW 2021 is March 21-27, 2021.

There are many ways for you to participate in NPPW. Follow us on social media and repost, schedule a virtual presentation, or order free materials for your family and friends. Make sure that you have the 1-800-222-1222 saved in your phone. That way, if you need it or someone around you needs it, you'll be able to get help wherever you are!

Call for help! 

If you or someone you know might have been poisoned
or you have a poison related question,
call the FREE Poison Helpline at
 1-800-222-1222

Instead of searching and scrolling and wondering,
pick up your phone and call 
1-800-222-1222.
Poison help is available 24-7-365. 

Why not save the Poison Help number into your cell phone today?

An Important Warning &
 Call for Change from a Texas Mom

A button battery is small enough to go missing without being noticed and is also small enough to be swallowed by a small child. It can happen in the blink of an eye and it can be deadly.

Trista Hamsmith noticed that her 17 month old daughter, Reese, wasn't feeling well. She had a runny nose and was wheezing and gagging. She called the doctor and made an appointment. At that appointment, Reese was diagnosed with croup. Unfortunately, there was an important piece of information not yet known.

Soon after the visit to the pediatrician, the family discovered that a button battery was missing from a device in their home. They rushed Reese to the emergency room where an x-ray confirmed their fears.  Reese had swallowed the tiny button battery. It was surgically removed right away, but unfortunately severe injury had already occurred. In the days and weeks that followed, Reese battled hard to survive, but after a little more than a month, she died from the injuries caused by swallowing the button battery.

What Can You Do?
Reese's family is telling her story and fighting for change to help prevent tragedies like this from happening to other families in the future. They have created a petition at Change.org for people to voice support of national standards related to consumer products containing button batteries. To learn more about the petition, click here.

From Trista Hamsmith: "As a mom, I cannot tell you the cost to add safer closures to products with button batteries. I can, however, confidently speak to the cost of not having these safety measures in place. My daughter, Reese, swallowed a button battery in October 2020; she endured countless surgeries and scopes and was intubated under sedation for 40 days. Reese lost her fight on December 17, 2020, at just 18 months old." 

Take a look at the video, Reese's Purpose, that was created to tell the story.

Reese's Purpose
Reese's Purpose

You probably have more button batteries in your home than you realize. If something is small and powered, chances are, it has a button battery inside. On some items, the battery compartment is secured with a tiny screw. Others are designed with convenience in mind and an adult, a young child or a pet could easily access the battery.  Look around and consider whether you have hidden danger devices that need to be closely monitored or secured. In addition to TOYS, many items just like the ones listed below are powered by button batteries.
  • Watches
  • Hearing aids
  • Singing greeting cards 
  • Battery powered candles
  • Thermometers
  • Remotes for electronics
  • Car keys
  • Garage door keychain  fobs
  •  Locator devices (for dog collar, keys, phones, etc.
  • Over the counter muscle pain devices
  • .....and many more

For more information on the dangers of button batteries, visit 

Printable Button Battery Safety Tips from Safe Kids Worldwide.
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