Do you know what to do if your child is poisoned? Call the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 604-682-5050 or 1-800-567-8911. If they are unconscious, having a seizure, difficulty breathing, or chest pain, call
9-1-1 immediately.

March 21 to 27 is Poison Prevention Week 2021 (PPW 2021). This year’s theme focuses on the dangers of poisoning from cannabis consumption.

• The BC Poison Control Centre receives over 70 calls each day about someone being poisoned in British Columbia.
• On average, 242 kids (20/month) are hospitalized each year in BC from unintentional poisoning.
• Cannabis is a factor in almost 400 injury-related hospitalizations each year.

Share these tips with your colleagues and on social media.

• Edibles can have a stronger, more prolonged effect on the body than other forms of cannabis. Ingesting cannabis is the most common cause of cannabis poisoning in children.
• Only 1 in 4 parents properly store their cannabis edibles. Remember to always keep them out of sight and locked up tight.
• Symptoms of cannabis poisoning include chest pain, rapid heartbeat, nausea or vomiting, and severe anxiety.
• When cannabis and alcohol are used at the same time, your chances of negative side effects are greater (panic, anxiety, dizziness, vomiting).
• 1 in 5 adults over 55 years say that they have trouble remembering when or if they have taken a medication.
• Some medications increase your risk of falling – either on their own or when two or more are combined.

Download our social media toolkit for PPW 2021.

• Social Media Messages
• Social Media Images (ZIP)
• Infographic (PDF)

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