Arizona poison centers see more calls amid coronavirus outbreak

PHOENIX — As more people stay home to fight the spread of the coronavirus, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center said it has experienced a spike in calls.

People are advised to be cognizant of the increased potential for exposure to household cleaning products, chemicals and medications.

“We’ve seen a 50% increase in accidental exposures to cleaning products in the last month,” Maureen Roland, managing director of the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center, said in a release.

Steve Dudley, managing director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, said most of these exposures have been with kids.

“Increased use of cleaners and children being home more often has led to a perfect storm for these situations to happen,” Dudley said in the release.

Dudley mentioned adults have fallen victim too.

Fortunately, Dudley said most tend to do “just fine” after receiving recommendations.

The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center is also joining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in warning against the use of any unproven or novel treatments for the coronavirus.

There are currently no proven medications or vaccines to treat the virus and it advised to not use any medication without a physician’s instruction.

A metro Phoenix man died and his wife was hospitalized in March when they ingested chloroquine phosphate, a substance that can treat malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, and is also sold as an additive to deal with infections and algae in fish tanks, as a home remedy for the coronavirus.

If anyone believes they have been exposed to any poison, medication or chemical, they are advised to contact the poison center immediately at 1-800-222-1222.

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