With Fall just around the corner, we will be out and about our gardens and yards involved in fall cleanup.  We will be planting, pruning and bringing our house plants indoors for the winter.   If you are like me,  and have children, you know they will be eagerly willing to lend you their helping hands.  Here in lies my column.

    A few Sunday's ago I received a call from a frantic father whose 2 year old toddler just ate a berry from a plant in their yard. He had no knowledge of the plant's and consequently, the local Poison Control could not  help him without the pertinent information.  Not being able to identify the plant, Poison Control suggested the father administer syrup of ipecac to his daughter "just to be on the safe side".  Feeling totally frustrated,  the father called me at my home and asked that I drive to his home to identify the plant.  I did,  and luckily it was not poisonous.  The plant was a "Nandina domestica".  The plant was reasonably non-toxic.  This particular story had a happy ending.  The plant was able to be identified quickly and it turned out not to be poisonous.  The toddler did not need the syrup of ipecac, but we all know this story's ending could have been much different.

    Parents with children need to know what type of plant is growing inside and outside of your home.  In a split second, a child can ingest plant leave, berries, petals, etc. with or without you ever knowing and the results can be devastating.  After Sunday's experience I wanted to write this column and remind you, our readers, of  this sometimes overlooked danger.  We all take great stride in "childproofing" our homes, but all to often we forget the "pretty" plants and flowers.  While being pretty, we need to remember that they can also be toxic and sometimes deadly.

    Most likely if you are living in a pre-owned home chances are that it is already landscaped. Unless you know your plants; you do not know what is growing in your garden.  I  have provided a list of SOME  common indoor and outdoor poisonous plants.  By no means is this list complete.  Take time to print this list and perform an  inventory of your plants, trees, and shrubbery at your home.  Know what types of indoor and outdoor plants you have currently.  Are they safe or poisonous?  If poisonous, either keep them out of the reach of children, supervise your children or replace the plants.

    Remember plants can contain a variety of poisons.  Some symptoms can range from a mild stomach ache, rash, swelling in the mouth or throat to much more serious reactions in the individual.  Always take the plant with you, especially a plant from the wild, when you are seeking emergency assistance.

    Hopefully this inventory list will be of  assistance to you.
 

    Here are some guidelines of what to do if you think your child may have ingested a poisonous plant:

    Stay calm. Remove any leftover plants from your child's mouth.

    With the child at your side, call your local poison control center.( Have this number by all you phones along with any other emergency numbers). Virginia's poison control center is Blue Ridge Poison Control at  #804-924-0347. Keep an up-to-date bottle of syrup of ipecac in your cupboard in case poison control center professional directs you to use it to induce vomiting in your child.  IMPORTANT:  DO NOT use syrup of ipecac without supervision of poison control professional.

    Describe the plant as best you can to poison control personnel.  Follow their instructions and seek emergency care for your child at your local hospital if so directed.

  Source:  Arizona Department of Health/Child Care