I thought this would be of interest to any of you who have OnStar in your car.
Calling Poison Control from the car?
Yes, around your car. Think about your child getting into the cold medicine you just bought at Costco, or your pet getting into that bag of M&Ms you just picked up at the store.
According to Poison Control, children are the most likely victims of a poisoning accident in a vehicle. One of the possible risks associated with vehicles is a child getting access to a purse that contains medication or getting into grocery bags with household products. Poison Control also receives a large amount of calls concerning the silica gel packets that are commonly found in shoe boxes and other packaged goods.
Pets also are at risk in vehicles as they may gain access to automotive products such as oil and antifreeze or food items such as chocolate or nuts that can be extremely toxic.
“As Americans spend more time in their cars, we’re seeing an increase of poison-related accidents in vehicles,” said Susan Smolinske, PharmD, medical director of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Poison Control Center, which will manage the relationship. “The car is not a controlled environment and drivers don’t always consider the possible exposure to risks outside of the home.”
There is no additional fee to OnStar subscribers to contact Poison Control via their OnStar system; access to Poison Control is an extension of OnStar’s emergency services line, included in the OnStar subscription that comes standard for one year on OnStar-equipped GM vehicles.
