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Common Plants Can Be Dangerous To Kids
Doctors Warn Parents About 700 Poisonous Plants In United States
UPDATED: 5:52 PM EDT June 4, 2004
MADISON, Wis. -- As schools close for the year and vacation season approaches, families are preparing to spend more and more time outside.
But once your child steps outside the door, there are more than 700 poisonous plants that can be found across the country.
"If you had a lot of plants in and around your home, you definitely want to make sure which ones are poisonous, especially if you have kids," said Mary Iverson, of Madison. "I've kind of eliminated most of mine."
Iverson got rid of the hazardous plants after learning many can also be dangerous to her house cat. Outdoor flowers including irises, bleeding hearts and Lily Of The Valleys have poisonous leaves, stems, and roots. Even some medicinal plants can have deadly effects.
"Most of the medicines we started with in medicine came from plants," said Dr. Donrad Andringa, a pediatrician at Dean West Clinic in Madison. "Foxglove is a good example; people were eating some of it and having toxic effects from it."
Andringa said people taking the leaf can have serious problems when taking unknown amounts. The leaves can cause irregular heartbeats and may be fatal. Even rhubarb used in pies can be harmful.
"We all enjoy a good rhubarb upside-down cake, but if you eat too much of the leaf, you're going to have serious complications," Andringa said.
Andringa said kids ages 2 and younger are the most common victims of plant poisoning. Most cases occur in the home.
If someone accidentally ingests a dangerous plant, call the poison center immediately and try to keep the plant so health officials can identify it.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/poison/poison.html
Doctors Warn Parents About 700 Poisonous Plants In United States
UPDATED: 5:52 PM EDT June 4, 2004
MADISON, Wis. -- As schools close for the year and vacation season approaches, families are preparing to spend more and more time outside.
But once your child steps outside the door, there are more than 700 poisonous plants that can be found across the country.
"If you had a lot of plants in and around your home, you definitely want to make sure which ones are poisonous, especially if you have kids," said Mary Iverson, of Madison. "I've kind of eliminated most of mine."
Iverson got rid of the hazardous plants after learning many can also be dangerous to her house cat. Outdoor flowers including irises, bleeding hearts and Lily Of The Valleys have poisonous leaves, stems, and roots. Even some medicinal plants can have deadly effects.
"Most of the medicines we started with in medicine came from plants," said Dr. Donrad Andringa, a pediatrician at Dean West Clinic in Madison. "Foxglove is a good example; people were eating some of it and having toxic effects from it."
Andringa said people taking the leaf can have serious problems when taking unknown amounts. The leaves can cause irregular heartbeats and may be fatal. Even rhubarb used in pies can be harmful.
"We all enjoy a good rhubarb upside-down cake, but if you eat too much of the leaf, you're going to have serious complications," Andringa said.
Andringa said kids ages 2 and younger are the most common victims of plant poisoning. Most cases occur in the home.
If someone accidentally ingests a dangerous plant, call the poison center immediately and try to keep the plant so health officials can identify it.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/poison/poison.html
