To keep carbon monoxide from collecting in your home, make sure that any fuel-burning equipment, such as a furnace, stove, or heater, works properly, and never use charcoal or other grills indoors or in the garage. Do not leave your car's engine running while it's in the garage, and consider putting weather stripping around the door between the garage and the house. Millions of poisoning exposures occur each year in the United States, resulting in nearly 900,000 visits to the emergency department. About 90 percent of poisonings happen in the home, and common household items are often the cause. The poisons involved most often are cleaning products, pain relievers, cosmetics, personal care products, plants, and cough and cold medicines.
Adolescents are also at risk for poisonings, both intentional and unintentional.
About half of all poisonings among teens are classified as suicide attempts. Poison control centers help millions of people each year, ensuring that poisonings are treated rapidly and correctly. Poison control centers managed more than 2 million cases of poison exposure in 1996. About three-quarters of these cases were managed at home over the telephone with the help of specialists trained in poison information. Poison control centers are extremely cost effective.