Had my first experience with poison control yesterday!

[rbnyc]

Everyone is okay.

I was home with my son yesterday. I was doing housework while he was playing. I have no idea where it came from, but I glanced at him and he had a tube of oil paint. The side of the tube was split and there was paint all over his hands and face, and he was putting his hand into his mouth.

I grabbed him and put him in the bathtub. I wiped out his mouth with a wet towel then grabbed the phone. I started running the bath and continued cleaning off my son while I called 911, because I did not have the number for poison control posted anywhere.

I told the 911 operator that my baby ate paint and I needed to be connected to poison control. She told me to hang up and call 311.

My baby is screaming because he doesn't understand why he's in the tub with his clothes on and why mommy is so scared, and why I keep wiping out his mouth.

The 311 operator answers. I tell he that my baby ate paint and I need to be connected to poison control. She says if this is an emergency, I should call 911. I tell her I just got off the phone with 911 and they told me to call 311. She connects me to poison control.

The paint tube is covered with paint, and I can't tell what kind of paint it is. My son is still screaming and I can't hear.

I am utterly freaking out at this point.

Finally I get the tube clean enough to read, and read the whole thing to the poison control lady. I can't be sure how much he swallowed. Honestly, I'm not sure if he swallowed any. Not more than a teaspoon full, if any. I really must have caught him as soon as he picked it up. And there was really not much paint in his mouth when I was cleaning it out. Mostly it was around his mouth.

The lady at poison control said I should just clean him off and give him something to eat and drink and that he'd be fine. She said that the biggest worry was lead, but with such a small amount, it was nothing to worry about.

I called my husband and he said he used to have some oil paints but he thought he'd thrown them all out.

I'd moved the bad earlier to change a light bulb. Perhaps the tube had been under the bed.

Anyway, it was so scary.

My son has a check up soon, and I will tell the doctor and ask for his lead level to be tested again.

But the poison control lady did tell me I shouldn't worry.

:scared:

Poor baby! It happened SO FAST!

[underpants]

1. See you get all artsy painting under the bed...

See what you get?

Glad to hear everyone is okay.

[LaurenG]

2. I'm glad all is well rbnyc

It never ceases to amaze me what little ones can find to stick in their mouths. You don't want to know what my kids tried to eat. Everything from dog food to dead cockroaches on the patio. Stuff you never even notice. Argh. :hug:

[miss_american_pie]

3. Nothing fazes those poison control ladies

And for future reference, an entire bottle of ipecac will make a kid puke all day, and even if a baby eats the whole packet of silica gel, he'll just get really thirsty.

:hi:

[rbnyc]

7. LOL

Thanks.

(nt)

[cally]

4. I'm glad he's OK

It's amazing how quickly it happens. :hug:

[ThomCat]

5. Thank (Diety of your choice) that you were alert.

I hope a blood test shows no lead in his blood. :thumbsup:

[bigwillq]

6. Glad he's ok.

That must've been really scary. :hug:

[LynneSin]

8. Awww....I hope he's fine

That's my future husband - wedding date 2024

:bounce: