Injury Prevention & Safety

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Safety Awareness Topic|Injury Prevention & Safety Resources

Rethink Poisons

Injury Prevention & Safety

Medications are one of the most common causes of poisoning in Alberta. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medicine and natural health products, such as vitamins and minerals.

It is easy to find over-the-counter medicines and natural health products in stores, online or at home. They can be safe for most people if you use them in the right ways. However, there is a risk of poisoning yourself and others if you don’t use or store them safely.

Knowing how to use and store medicine safely can help prevent poison-related injuries for you and your family.

What Can You Do?

Take Action to Prevent Poisoning

Take and give medicine safely:

Always read the label and instructions before you take any medicine or give it to someone else.
Read and follow the dosage. Medicine doesn’t work better by taking more. It works best when you take the right amount.
Don’t mix any medicines or natural health products before talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

When picking up or buying medicine:

Talk to your pharmacist. They can help you use prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines and natural health products safely.
Buy smaller packages instead of bigger ones. Having less medicine at home can help prevent poisoning from misuse.
Choose products with child-resistant packaging.

Store all medicine safely after use:

Store medicine and natural health products in a high place such as on top of the fridge or in a high cupboard.
Lock all medicine away and keep them out of sight and reach of children.
Visitors to your home may carry medicine with them. Keep their bags and coats out of reach of children.

Need Help?

If you are concerned that someone has been poisoned, call 911 or the Poison and Drug Information Service (PADIS) at 1-800-332-1414

Learn More

Poison & Drug Info (PADIS)
Poisoning – Parachute
Poisoning – MyHealth.Alberta.ca
Poison Prevention Week – Injury Prevention Centre

Injury Prevention & Safety Resources

Resources are also available for:

Health Professionals | Schools & Educators

Topic

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Learn More	Topic	Information For	Keywords
Child Car Seats	On the Move view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
ATV Safety	On the Move, Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian, Youth, Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Child Safety: Pedestrian	On the Move view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
School Safety: School Bus Safety	On the Move view-all	Parent or Guardian, Youth view-all	-
Child Safety: Preventing Burns	At Home view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Choking Prevention in Small Children	At Home view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Crying, Age 3 and Younger	At Home view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Child Safety: Preventing Drowning	At Home view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Child Safety: Preventing Falls	At Home view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Rural Safety: Farm Safety for Children	At Home, At Play view-all	Parent or Guardian, Youth view-all	-
Preventing Poisoning in Young Children	At Home view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Safe Sleep for Babies First Year	At Home view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Swallowed Button Battery, Magnet or Object with Lead	At Home view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Trampoline Safety	At Home, At Play, Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian, Youth view-all	-
Bike and Small Wheeled Recreation (Children)	At Play, Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Playground Safety	At Play view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Sport and Recreation Safety (Children)	At Play, Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Winter Safety	On the Move, At Play view-all	Parent or Guardian, Youth, Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Sport and Recreation Safety (Youth)	At Play, Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Bike and Small Wheeled Recreation Safety (Youth)	At Play, Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Child Safety: Take the Bike Helmet YES Test	Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Winter Safety: Ice Hockey and Skating	Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Winter Safety: Downhill Ski and Snowboarding	Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Winter Safety: Sledding and Tobogganing	Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Bullying	Suicide Prevention view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Grief and Healing After Suicide Loss	Suicide Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Stress Management: Stress and Youth	On the Move view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Suicide: Self-Harm and Youth	Suicide Prevention view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Warning Signs of Suicide in Children and Teens	Suicide Prevention view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Youth Addiction & Mental Health - Help4Me	Suicide Prevention view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Teen Drivers: Helping Your Teen Become a Safe Driver	Traffic Safety view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth, Adult view-all	-
The Checkpoints Parent-Teen Driving Agreement	Traffic Safety view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth, Adult view-all	-
Preventing Trips, Slips and Falls	Falls Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Preventing Falls in the Hospital	Falls Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Preventing Falls: Care Instructions	Falls Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Suicide: Hope and Healing After Suicide	Suicide Prevention view-all	Parent or Guardian; Youth; Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Stress Management	Suicide Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Suicidal Thoughts and Threats	Suicide Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Suicide: The Language of Suicide	Suicide Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Warning Signs of Suicide in Adults	Suicide Prevention view-all	Adult view-all	-
Bike and Small Wheeled Recreation (Overview)	Sport & Recreation view-all	Parent or Guardian, Youth, Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Sport and Recreation Safety: Adults	Sport & Recreation view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Traffic Safety: Safety Tips for Drivers, Cyclists, and Pedestrians	Traffic Safety view-all	Parent or Guardian, Youth, Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Elder Abuse	Family Violence view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Domestic Violence	Family Violence view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Preventing Falls in Older Adults	Falls Prevention view-all	Older Adult view-all	-
Aging Well: Making Your Home Fall-Proof	Falls Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Preventing Falls in Older Adults Who Take High-Risk Medicines	Falls Prevention view-all	Older Adult view-all	-
Warning Signs of Suicide in Older Adults	Suicide Prevention view-all	Older Adult view-all	-
Healthy Aging: Is It Time to Stop Driving	Traffic Safety view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Healing After a Suicide Death	Suicide Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult: Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Helping Children Cope With a Suicide Death	Suicide Prevention view-all	Parent or Guardian; Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
After a Suicide: Everyone Grieves in Their Own Way	Suicide Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Treatment - Outpatient / Outreach Counselling Service: Lloydminster	Family Violence view-all	Adult, Older Adult view-all	-
Bicycle and Wheeled Safety Service: North Zone	Traffic Safety; On the Move view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Poison & Drug Information Service (PADIS) Service: Alberta-wide	Suicide Prevention; At Home view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Provincial Family Violence Treatment Program Service: Alberta-wide	Family Violence view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian; Youth view-all	-
Car Seat Safety Service: North Zone	Traffic Safety; On the Move view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Child Car Seat Education Clinics Service: South Zone	Traffic Safety; On the Move view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Driver Evaluation and Training Service Service: South Zone	Traffic Safety; On the Move view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Child Safety Workshops Service: Edmonton Zone	Traffic Safety, Child and Youth Safety, Falls Prevention view-all	Adult, Older Adult; Parent or Guardian view-all	-
Keep Your Child Safe from Falls	Prevent Concussions, Child and Youth Safety, Falls Prevention view-all	Youth; Parent or Guardian view-all	-

Our work takes place on historical and contemporary Indigenous lands, including the territories of Treaty 6, Treaty 7 & Treaty 8 and the homeland of the Métis Nation of Alberta and 8 Metis Settlements. We also acknowledge the many Indigenous communities that have been forged in urban centres across Alberta.

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