Posters IV - The American Academy of Clinical Toxicology

1 Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington VT 2 Salus Consulting, LLC, Minneapolis MN USA
3 Northern New England Poison Center, Portland ME USA
Background: It can be difficult for refugees who are not native English speakers to understand the poison
center's role and when to call. Lack of awareness and language or cultural barriers may contribute to
underutilization of poison center services. It is important to develop materials and provide education to
overcome these barriers. Methods: Three refugee groups (Bhutanese, Burmese and Swahili- or Kirundispeaking
central Africans) in a rural state were educated about poison center services and poison
prevention in 2010. The groups represented both newly resettled and established refugee populations. This
IRB-approved project involved two sessions, one week apart. The trainings were promoted by a nonprofit
resettlement agency and consisted of interpreted pre- and post-surveys, a pre-recorded PowerPoint
presentation and review of key prevention behaviors. Graphic-based magnets and translated postcards
were distributed. A follow-up survey was administered one week later to assess knowledge retention and
behavioral changes. All de-identified data were analyzed for statistical significance (at p≤.05) using T-
Tests with SPSS software. As an incentive for completing the one-week follow-up survey, a water bottle
was given to each participant. Results: Initially there were 64 participants (18 Burmese, 34 Bhutanese and
12 Swahili- or Kirundi-speakers). The pre-survey found that only 19% (n=12) had ever heard of the
poison center. There was variation between groups. The Swahili-speakers, a more settled group, had the
greatest initial awareness (46%) and the Bhutanese the least (3%). Post-survey results showed a
statistically significant improvement in knowledge of ways poisons can enter the body and when to call
the poison center versus 911 for a child medication-related poisoning. 73% (n=47) completed the oneweek
follow-up survey. Participants were asked to complete five prevention steps. All of these steps were
completed by at least 84% of participants and two were completed by 100%. Conclusion: Poison
prevention education to non-English speaking refugees is effective in increasing awareness of poison
center services and changing behaviors. Participants' feedback showed strong interest in the topic and
available resources. Several Swahili-speaking participants requested to become future peer educators.
Some limitations include: possibly confusing and poorly designed questions; variation in interpretation
skills, potentially affecting participants' responses; possible sharing of answers; small study size;
significantly lower participation percentage for the one week follow-up session; and inability to match
follow-up responses with pre- and post-surveys.
273
MASS CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING IN A SCHOOL: A CALL TO ACTION
Katherine Hart 1 , Amy L Hanoian-Fontana 1 , Lauren M Salinger 1 , Marc J Bayer 1
1 Connecticut Poison Control Center, Farmington CT USA
Background: Our Poison Control Center (PCC) was contacted about a mass carbon monoxide (CO)
exposure in a public elementary school serving grades K - 5. Thirty-two fifth grade students, ages 8 to 11
years old, and 3 adult staff members were treated at two local emergency departments for CO
poisoning. Symptoms in most patients included headache, nausea and dizziness, and
carboxyhemoglobin levels up to 12% were measured after some treatment with 100% oxygen. CO
levels of 40 to 125 ppm were measured inside the school. All patients were treated with normobaric 100%
oxygen for 4 - 6 hours; symptoms resolved and all were discharged home. Investigation revealed the
source was a malfunctioning boiler, and also revealed that carbon monoxide detectors were not present in
the school. We discovered that there is no state requirement for carbon monoxide detection / alarm
equipment in schools. CO, a colorless, odorless, potentially deadly gas, is produced during incomplete