CLEVELAND — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it's getting more calls to the poison control center around the country. The CDC said it looked at a three-month period, comparing calls made from January through March to those during the same time in 2018 and 2019.
While researchers can’t prove the coronavirus drove the increase, they said it’s likely the two are linked. So far this year, more than 45,000 calls have been made to poison control for exposure to cleaning chemicals or disinfectants.
Last year, there were 38,000 reports. A majority of calls involved children aged 5 of younger, with nearly half related to disinfectants. Bleach was also blamed for a high number of overall calls.
So how can you protect yourself? The CDC said follow the product label by not mixing chemicals, wear gloves and use cleaners in a ventilated area.
If you swallow or inhale a product that could be harmful, you can call the poison control at 1-800-222-1222.
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