The Poison Information Center has received nearly 60 calls this summer. Most calls have been about children finding wolf's bane berries and mushrooms.
Kelli Suvi says that wolf's bane berries are indeed poisonous, but they taste bad. Therefore, children do not eat many at once. Eating up to five berries does not cause major health problems.
This summer has been rainy, which is why mushrooms have appeared early. You don't have to look for mushroom species in the forest; they can also be found in the yard. Many calls have been about young children eating brown mushrooms.
If a child has eaten a mushroom, their mouth should be cleaned, and their condition should be monitored. These mushrooms are not poisonous, but they may cause vomiting or headaches in children. If symptoms appear, call the Poison Information Center.
There have been fewer snake bites this year than last. This year, there have been 12, compared to 35 last year.
Most poisoning cases in summer involve young children. Often, these occur due to household chemicals or medications. Medications may be mixed up, chemicals may be easily accessible, or a child may eat a discarded nicotine pouch.
If you suspect poisoning, do not wait for symptoms to appear; call 16662 immediately. Advice is available in Estonian, English, and Russian.