National Poison Prevention Week aims to draw attention to the causes of poisoning and how to prevent them from occurring. This guide is to help communities and partners use social media to support and promote National Poison Prevention Week 2024! 

Who should use this guide 

This guide is for all community leaders and partners who use social media tools or online communication media in a professional capacity, including, but not limited to, the following: Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or blogs.  

Follow our lead

Throughout the month of March, including Poison Prevention Week, March 17 to 23, 2024, Parachute will be active on all our social media platforms promoting poison prevention information and sharing safety tips. Follow us and comment, share, like, repost and retweet relevant content. We’ll be doing the same, with as many of you as possible, leading up to and during Poison Prevention Week! 

Twitter (X): @parachutecanada
Facebook: www.facebook.com/parachutecanada
Instagram: www.instagram.com/parachutecanada
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/parachute—leaders-in-injury-prevention 

Use hashtags! 

Use hashtags in all social media channels to gain momentum and build a community of support leading up to and during Poison Prevention Week, March 17 to March 23, 2024. 

Primary Hashtag: #EmpowerPoisonPrevention 
Secondary Hashtag: #NPPW2024

You can also create your own hashtags, but we urge you to use #EmpowerPoisonPrevention and #NPPW2024 in all posts. 

When you should start posting 

Start posting and tweeting about Poison Prevention Week any time! We want to boost the number of people who are aware of the Poison Prevention Week dates and start engaging your community partners and the public as soon as possible. 

We encourage you to try and post every day during Poison Prevention Week: March 17 to 23, 2024. 

What you should share 

Please share the link to Poison Prevention Week and any of the information/key messages available there: parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek

We encourage you to download and add these easy-to-download Poison Prevention Week 2024 Social Media Images to your posts to catch your readers’ eye. 

Sample tweets/social media posts 

Below are sample posts you can use as tweets or as posts on other social media channels (Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, LinkedIn). You are also welcome and encouraged to come up with your own tweets and messages that make sense for your organization and your community! 

Please note that tweets can only be 280 characters in length (including links). In addition to posting Poison Prevention Week materials, you can also tweet out references to your related materials and website at your organization. We have images we encourage you to use at parachute.ca/ppwimages. Please note: if you are planning to use paid advertisements, imagery with cannabis or cannabis edibles may be flagged and/or removed by certain platforms.

Before the start of Poison Prevention Week 

  • Poison Prevention Week runs from March 17 to March 23, 2024. Learn what common products can be harmful and how you can prevent poisoning: parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024
  • We’re getting ready for Poison Prevention Week, March 17 to 23. Find useful resources and learn how you can get involved: parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • This Poison Prevention Week, we’re showing you that poison prevention is in your hands. Stay tuned to learn how to #EmpowerPoisonPrevention in and around your home. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #NPPW2024 

During Poison Prevention Week (March 17 to 23, 2024) 

  • There are many items in and around your home that can cause poisoning. Recognize and identify potential poisons: parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Medications are the leading cause of poisoning in Canada. Prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause poisoning if taken by mistake or used incorrectly. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • In 2021, medications that relieve pain, known as analgesics, were the No. 1 substance Canada’s poison centres received calls about. Learn more: parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Household cleaners can be brightly coloured and appealing to children. As well, when mixed, household cleaners can produce dangerous chemicals. Learn more at parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Ingesting cannabis is the most common cause of cannabis poisoning in children. Cannabis edibles can have a stronger effect on the body than other forms of cannabis. parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/poisoning/cannabis/ #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Cannabis edibles often resemble common snacks (e.g., brownies, gummy candies). A young child may be unable to tell the difference. Learn more at parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/poisoning/cannabis/ #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024  
  • Children can have significant effects from cannabis edibles such as drowsiness, coma, agitation and difficulty breathing. Keep your kids safe! parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/poisoning/cannabis/ #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024  
  • Colourful, transparent laundry detergent pods may look like candies or toys to children. Laundry detergent pods can harm a child if ingested, or if the liquid gets into their eyes. #EmpowerPoisonPrevention parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #NPPW2024 
  • Some indoor plants can be toxic if ingested. Leave the name tag on each plant in the home. #EmpowerPoisonPrevention parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #NPPW2024 
  • Don’t assume that a plant is safe for humans to eat because birds or wildlife eat it. Teach children to never put berries, seeds, flowers, nuts or leaves in their mouth without checking with an adult first. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Never eat wild mushrooms. Check outdoor areas frequently for mushrooms before children go outdoors to play and remove all mushrooms growing outdoors near your home. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • It’s #NPPW2024! Learn how to store potential poisons safely and prevent poisoning: parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention
  • Store poisonous products high, locked and out of sight. Put medications, cannabis and other products away after every use. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Keep products in their original, child-resistant packaging. Child-resistant packaging has been shown to reduce poisoning injuries and deaths. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Keep medications, cleaners and other products in their original, labelled packaging to ensure you have instructions for use, avoid mix-ups and have information about the contents should you need to call a poison centre. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Keep visitors’ purses or bags out of children’s reach.Visitors may have potentially poisonous products with them, such as medication, vitamins, cosmetics or cannabis products. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Always read the label and check the dosage each time you give or take medicine, including over-the-counter and prescription medications. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Take unused medications to the pharmacy for proper disposal. Keeping extra medication in the home is an unnecessary poisoning risk. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Avoid mixing different cleaning products together. Mixing can cause chemical reactions that produce dangerous gases. #EmpowerPoisonPrevention parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #NPPW2024 
  • Avoid using cannabis products and e-cigarettes in front of children. Children often want to do the same things their parents and caregivers do. #EmpowerPoisonPrevention parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/poisoning/cannabis/ #NPPW2024 
  • Without a carbon monoxide alarm, you can’t detect poisonous CO gas. Install carbon monoxide alarms on every floor of your home and outside sleeping areas. parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/poisoning/carbonmonoxide/ #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Replace carbon monoxide alarm batteries at least once a year. parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/poisoning/carbonmonoxide/ #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Carbon monoxide alarms wear out! Sensors weaken and become obstructed over time. Replace the unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions. parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/poisoning/carbonmonoxide/ #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Never use propane products or portable generators inside of the home or garage. Learn why at parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Having an action plan in place can help you and your family respond quickly in the event of a poisoning. Only 18% of Canadians report knowing about local poison resources. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Possible poisoning? Call your local poison centre: infopoison.ca #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024  
  • Canada has a toll-free 24/7 number for poison centres. If you suspect a poisoning, call 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669).  In Québec, call 1-800-454-1212. In Nunavut, contact your local health centre. infopoison.ca #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Keep the number of your poison centre nearby or in your phone. Program the number into your phone’s contact list or keep it in a visible location, such as on your fridge. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • In the event someone is potentially poisoned, contact the poison centre. If the person loses consciousness or has difficulty breathing, call 911. parachute.ca/poisonpreventionweek #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Help create a safer Canada! Report your experience with or concerns about a product to Health Canada to help identify risks to people’s health and safety: www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/report-incident/consumers.html. #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Play a vital role in reducing medication incidents by reporting them (e.g., receiving the wrong medication, dose, or route of administration): www.mederror.ca. #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 
  • Health professionals are encouraged to report adverse reactions to medications and concerns about products: https://bit.ly/practitionerreport. Reporting is a critical part of the process to improve health product safety for all people in Canada. #EmpowerPoisonPrevention #NPPW2024 

After Poison Prevention Week 

  • Poison Prevention Week has wrapped up, but #CANInjuryPrevention is important all year long! Visit @parachutecanada for info & tips: parachute.ca #NPPW2024 #EmpowerPoisonPrevention

Ask our advice

If you have any questions or need some guidance, please feel free to contact Parachute’s social media team at socialmedia@parachute.ca

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