School may be out for the summer, but the risk of poisoning is not taking a vacation. An analysis of Upstate New York Poison Center data from 2011 through 2025 found that poison exposures among children and teens increase significantly during June, July, and August. 

“When routines change, the risk of poisoning increases,” says Jeanna Marraffa, clinical director of the Upstate New York Poison Center. “Children may spend more time at home, visit relatives, attend camps, and encounter products they don’t normally have access to during the school year. Poisoning can happen in seconds. That is why preparation and prevention are so important.” 

The Upstate New York Poison Center found the largest summer increases involve exposures to plants, pesticides, sunscreen and suntan products, mushrooms, and insect repellents. 

  • Plants 
  • Pesticides 
  • Sunscreen/suntan products 
  • Mushrooms 
  • Insect repellents 

While these seasonal exposures increase during the summer months, common over-the-counter medications and supplements continue to account for many poison exposures among children year-round. 

The Upstate New York Poison Center encourages families, camps, childcare programs, and community organizations to take simple steps to reduce the risk of poisoning: 

  • Store medications, chemicals, and cannabis products up high and out of sight and reach of children. 
  • Keep products in their original containers. 
  • Never leave children unattended around chemicals, pesticides, or fuel products. 
  • Avoid eating mushrooms, berries, or plants found growing in the wild unless identified by an expert. 
  • Keep popular squishy toys out of the heat. If one explodes and gets in your child’s eyes or mouth, call us. 
  • Save the Upstate New York Poison Center number, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone before an emergency happens. 

To help communities stay safe, the Upstate New York Poison Center is offering a free online Poison Prevention Training. The self-paced training takes approximately 16 minutes to complete and provides practical information on poisoning prevention, recognizing hazards, and knowing when to call our poison center. The training is designed for parents, caregivers, grandparents, camp counselors, teachers, childcare providers, and healthcare professionals. 

The free training is available at: https://www.upstate.edu/poison/community/train.php 

The Upstate New York Poison Center, housed at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, covers 54 counties in New York State and provides free, confidential, 24/7 expert guidance for poison emergencies and poison-related questions at 1-800-222-1222. Specialists include specially trained nurses, pharmacists, and physicians who can help determine whether treatment can safely be managed at home or requires medical attention