Malta National Poisons Centre

04/11/2026

🇲🇹 Dħaħen, gassijiet, u foga 💨 minn diversi kimiċi jistgħu jikkawżaw avvelenament jew irritazzjoni serja meta jinġibdu man-nifs.

⚠️ Sintomi jistgħu jinkludu:
• Sogħla jew irritazzjoni fil-griżmejn
• Uġigħ ta’ ras jew sturdament
• Dardir
• Diffikultà għan-nifs
• Konfużjoni jew telf mis-sensi

X’għandek tagħmel:
➡️Oħroġ għall-arja friska immedjatement
➡️Evita aktar espożizzjoni u tidħolx lura f’żona perikoluża

🚨 Jekk int jew persuna li taf kontu esposti għal dħaħen, ċempel lill-Malta National Poisons Centre fuq 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰.

🇬🇧 Smoke, gases and fumes 💨 from many chemicals can cause poisoning or serious irritation when inhaled.

⚠️ Symptoms may include:
• Coughing or throat irritation
• Headache or dizziness
• Nausea
• Difficulty breathing
• Confusion or loss of consciousness

What should you do?
➡️Move to fresh air immediately
➡️Avoid further exposure and do not re-enter a hazardous area

🚨 If you or someone you know has been exposed to fumes through inhalation, call the Malta National Poisons Centre on 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰.

31/10/2026

Our first day at Esplora Villains Academy, in collaboration with PACTS 🎃👻

We’ll be here until Tuesday, so come along, visit our stand and discover how to stay safe from everyday poisons! ☠️

L-ewwel ġurnata tagħna fl-Akkademja tal-Villains ta’ Esplora, b’kollaborazzjoni ma’ PACTS 🎃👻

Se nkunu hawn sa nhar it-Tlieta; mela ejjew żuruna fuq l-istand tagħna u skopru kif tipproteġu lilkom infuskom minn sustanzi velenużi li niltaqgħu magħhom fil-ħajja ta’ kuljum! ☠️

29/10/2026

🇲🇹 Halloween 🎃 jaf iġib miegħu xi qtajja, iżda l-avvelenament m’għandux ikun waħda minnhom!

Xi oġġetti assoċjati mal-Halloween jistgħu jwasslu għal avvelenament aċċidentali, speċjalment fit-tfal żgħar:
✨ Glowsticks: il-likwidu tagħhom ġeneralment huwa ta’ tossiċità baxxa, iżda kapaċi jirrita l-ħalq, il-ġilda u l-għajnejn, f’każ li jinqasmu.
🎨 Żebgħa tal-wiċċ: uża prodotti maħsuba għall-użu fuq il-ġilda
🍭 Ħelu: iċċekkja l-ippakkeġġjar qabel ma t-tfal jieklu l-ħelu u armi dak kollu li jkun miftuħ jew suspettuż.

📞 Jekk ikun hemm xi espożizzjoni suspettuża jew aċċidentali, ċempel 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 għal parir.

👻 Ħu gost iżda żomm iżda żomm ruħek sigur mill-veleni!

🇬🇧 Halloween 🎃 might bring some scares, but poisoning shouldn’t be one of them!

Certain items associated with Halloween can lead to accidental poisoning, especially in young children:
✨ Glow sticks: The liquid inside is generally of low toxicity, but it can irritate the mouth, the skin, and the eyes if the sticks break.
🎨 Face paint: Use products specifically designed for use on the skin.
🍭 Sweets: Check the packaging before children eat any treats, and discard any items that are already open or appear suspicious.

📞 In the event of any suspicious or accidental exposure, call 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 for advice.

👻 Have fun, but stay safe from poisons!

22/10/2026

It's always a pleasure to welcome students from Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at UM at the Malta National Poisons Centre PACTS

21/10/2026

🇲🇹 Il-kaffeina ma tinsabx biss fil-kafè u t-te imma tinstab ukoll fl-energy drinks, fis-supplimenti, fil-mediċini u fi prodotti oħra.

Wisq kaffeina tista’ tikkawża sintomi bħal dardir, rimettar, rogħda, taħbit tal-qalb mgħaġġel jew irregolari, u aġitazzjoni.

🔒 Żomm dawn il-prodotti ’l bogħod minn fejn jilħquhom it-tfal.
🏷️ Aqra t-tikketti bir-reqqa u segwi l-istruzzjonijiet dwar il-porzjonijiet.
☕Evita li tħallat prodotti b’kontenut għoli ta’ kaffeina mingħajr ma tivverifika l-ammont totali.
📞 Jekk xi ħadd jista’ jkun li kkonsma wisq kaffeina, ikkuntattja lill-Malta National Poisons Centre fuq 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰.

🇬🇧 Caffeine is found not only in coffee and tea but also in energy drinks, supplements, medicines and other products.

Too much caffeine can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tremor, a fast or irregular heartbeat, and agitation.

🔒 Keep these products out of reach of children.
🏷️ Read labels carefully and follow the instructions on serving sizes.
☕Avoid combining products with a high caffeine content without checking the total amount.
📞 If someone may have consumed too much caffeine, contact the Malta National Poisons Centre on 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰.

15/10/2026

🇲🇹 Il-faqqiegħ selvaġġ 🍄 jista’ jkun diffiċli biex tidentifikah sew, u jeżistu speċi velenużi li jixbhu lil dawk li jittieklu.

⚠️ L-avvelenament bil-faqqiegħ jista’ jikkawża:
• Dardir, rimettar jew dijarea
• Uġigħ ta’ żaqq
• Konfużjoni jew sturdament
• F’każijiet serji, ħsara fil-fwied jew fil-kliewi

Is-sintomi jistgħu wkoll idumu diversi sigħat biex jidhru.
👉 Qatt tiekol faqqiegħ selvaġġ li mhux identifikat minn espert
👉 Tħallix l-apparenza tiegħu tiggwidak
👉 Żomm kampjun jew ritratt jekk xi ħadd viċin tiegħek jiġi espost

📞 Għandek suspett t’ avvelenament? Ċempel 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 immedjatament.

🇬🇧 Wild mushrooms 🍄 can be difficult to identify, and poisonous species may resemble edible ones.

⚠️ Mushroom poisoning may cause:
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain
• Confusion or dizziness
• In severe cases, liver or kidney damage

Symptoms may also be delayed for several hours.
👉 Never eat unidentified wild mushrooms
👉 Do not rely on appearance alone
👉 Keep a sample or photo if ingestion occurs

📞 Suspected poisoning? Call 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 immediately.

08/10/2026

🇲🇹 Ħrafa: Jekk xi ħadd jiġi avvelenat, is-sintomi jidhru immedjatament.

Fatt: Xi veleni jistgħu jikkawżaw sintomi li jitfaċċaw t**d; dan ifisser li persuna tista’ tħossha kompletament f’postha għal tul ta’ ħin wara li tkun ġiet esposta għal sustanza b’potenzjal ta’ ħsara.

Iż-żmien li s-sintomi jieħdu biex jidhru hu ddeterminat minn fatturi bħal:
⏱️ Is-sustanza involuta
⚖️ Il-kwantità li tkun ittieħdet
👤 L-età u l-piż tal-persuna
💊 Mediċini jew sustanzi oħra involuti
🧪 Kif seħħet l-espożizzjoni

Għalhekk, il-fatt li tħossok tajjeb immedjatament mhux dejjem ifisser li ma saritx ħsara.
• Tistenniex li jidhru s-sintomi qabel tfittex parir.
• Jekk jista’ jkun, żomm il-prodott, l-ippakkjar jew il-mediċina fil-qrib.
• Ħu nota ta’ x’ġara, il-kwantità ta’ sustanza involuta u meta seħħet l-espożizzjoni.

📞 Jekk tissuspetta avvelenament, ċempel il-Malta National Poisons Centre fuq 1774 għal parir. Risk assessment bikri jista’ jgħin biex jiġi stabbilit jekk tistax tibqa’ d-dar mingħajr periklu jew jekk hemmx bżonn ta’ kura medika.

🇬🇧 Myth: If someone has been poisoned, they will feel unwell straight away.

Fact: Some poisons can cause delayed symptoms, meaning a person may initially feel completely well even after a potentially harmful exposure.

The time it takes for symptoms to appear depends on factors such as:
⏱️ The substance involved
⚖️ The amount taken
👤 The person’s age and weight
💊 Other medicines or substances involved
🧪 How the exposure occurred

That’s why feeling well does not always mean the exposure is harmless.
• Do not wait for symptoms before seeking advice.
• Keep the product, packaging or medicine nearby if possible.
• Note what happened, how much may have been involved and when the exposure occurred.

📞 If you suspect poisoning, call the Malta National Poisons Centre on 1774 for advice.
Early assessment can help determine whether the person can safely remain at home or whether further medical care is needed.

30/09/2026

🇲🇹 Fid-djar tan-nanniet, il-mediċini kapaċi jkunu maħżuna f’postijiet li faċilment jintlaħqu mit-tfal.

Dawn jinkludu:
👜 Handbags
💊 Kaxxi tal-pilloli
🛏️ Komodini
🍽️ Bank tal-kċina

Għat-tfal, xi pilloli jaf jidhru qishom ħelu 🍬

B’ hekk sabiex iżżommhom siguri u ‘l bogħod mit-tfal:
🔒 Erfa’ l-mediċini fejn it-tfal ma jarawhomx u ma jilħquhomx
👜 Żomm il-handbags ’il bogħod mit-tfal
⚠️ Ftakar li l-kaxxi tal-pilloli mhumiex child-resistant
💊 Tħallix mediċini jiġru ‘l hawn u ‘l hemm

📞 Tissuspetta xi espożizzjoni? Ċempel 1774 minnufih.

🇬🇧 At grandparents' homes, medicines can often be found in places easily accessible to children.

Common locations include:
👜 Handbags
💊 Pill boxes
🛏️ Bedside tables
🍽️ Kitchen counters

To children, pills can look like sweets 🍬

To keep them safe:
🔒 Store medicines out of sight and out of reach of children
👜 Keep handbags away from children
⚠️ Remember that pill boxes are not child resistant
💊 Do not leave medicines lying around
📞 Do you suspect an exposure? Call 1774 immediately.

23/09/2026

🇲🇹 Il-button batteries huma żgħar, faċli biex jinbelgħu, u jistgħu jikkawżaw ħruq intern serju.

Ħafna drabi dawn jinstabu f’:
⌚ Arloġġi
🔑 Remote controls u ċwievet tal-karozzi
🧸 Ġugarelli
⚖️ Apparat domestiku żgħir

Erfa’ l-batteriji, kemm dawk ġodda kif ukoll dawk użati, f'post sigur u magħluq, u kun żgur li l-kompartimenti tal-batteriji jkunu magħluqin sew.

Jekk jinbelgħu:
⚠️ Tistenniex sakemm jidhru s-sintomi
❌ Tippruvax iġġiegħel lill-persuna tirremetti
✅ Mur minnufih fid-Dipartiment tal-Emerġenza
🍯 Jekk it-tfal għandhom sena jew aktar, agħti 2 kuċċarini għasel kull 10 minuti
📞 Jekk għandek dubju, ċempel 1774 għal parir

🇬🇧 Button batteries are small, easily swallowed, and can cause serious internal burns.

They are often found in:
⌚ Watches
🔑 Remote controls and car keys
🧸 Toys
⚖️ Small household appliances

Store batteries, both new and used, in a safe, secure place, and ensure battery compartments are tightly closed.

If swallowed:
⚠️ Do not wait for symptoms to appear
❌ Do not try to induce vomiting
✅ Go immediately to the Emergency Department
🍯 If the child is one year of age or older, give 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes
📞 If in doubt, call 1774 for advice

Merħba Merħba fil-website tal-Malta National Poisons Centre. Il-helpline nazzjonali kontra l-veleni 1774 huwa miftuħ għall-pubbliku mit-Tnejn sal-Ħadd, bejn it-08:00 u l-20:00. Informazzjoni Importanti F’każ ta’ suspett ta’ avvelenament barra l-ħinijiet tal-helpline, il-membri tal-pubbl...

23/09/2026

🇲🇹 B’laqta umoristika, Jamie u Wayne jiskopru r-riskji ta’ avvelenament fid-dar, fil-ħajja ta’ kuljum u kemm jistgħu jsiru żbalji faċilment: mit-taħlit ta’ prodotti tat-tindif sax-xorb aċċidentali ta’ sustanza kimika.

Il-messaġġ huwa ċar: jekk tissuspetta avvelenament, ikkuntattja lill-Malta National Poisons Centre fuq 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 għal parir professjonali.

Issejvja n-numru. Qatt ma taf meta jista’ jkollok bżonnu!

🇬🇧 In this humorous take, Jamie and Wayne discover everyday household poisoning risks and how easily mistakes can happen: from mixing cleaning products to accidentally drinking a chemical.

The message is clear: if you suspect poisoning, contact the Malta National Poisons Centre on 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 for professional advice.

Save the number. You never know when you might need it!