“The top 10 human poisonings list”…
Ran across an interesting list recently while writing about budget cuts to the state Poison Center, (the logo for which probably makes the state's tourism folks squirm.)
The budget-cut changes, by the way, include forking over $30 on your credit card to get advice about a poisoned pet. The center fields a surprising number of these calls, including from owners of iguanas, guinea pigs, spiders and fish.
Deaths from unintentional drug overdoses are now the No. 1 cause of accidental deaths in Washington, according to the center's medical director, Dr. William Hurley.
For humans, here's the center's "top 10 human poisonings list for 2008":
-Ibuprofen
-Benzodiazepine (tranquilizer)
-diaper-rash products (eaten, presumably)
-ethanol (meaning alcoholic beverages)
-children's acetaminophen/Tylenol
-antihistamines like Zyrtec and Claritin
-antidepressants
-silica gel (those little white "do not eat" packets that keep dry foods dry)
-regular acetaminophen/Tylenol
-systemic antibiotics (often used for acne)