Malta National Poisons Centre

Today we had the pleasure of presenting the awards to the winners of the Poison Prevention Artistic Expression Competition 2026. It was a lovely morning during which we recognised the creativity, effort, and important messages shared by these young Poison Prevention Ambassadors. 👏

A huge well done to:

Daniel Lysak - Sliema Primary
Amelia Glanville - Żurrieq Primary
Shefali Patnaik - Saint Anne Primary Marsascala
Emma Falzon Scerri - Sacred Heart Junior School
Leia Gauci - Naxxar Primary
Jael Refalo - Victoria Primary
Kay Callus Schembri - Luqa Primary
Elias Paul Cutajar - Fgura Primary
Alessia Calleja - St Aloysius Primary
Zoe Amberley Cachon - Siġġiewi Primary
Juliette Lopez - Kalkara Primary

Thank you to all participating students, educators, and schools for supporting poison prevention awareness through art and creativity. 💚

We are proud to share some wonderful news!

Our colleague, Mark Zammit, has been appointed President of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists.

This is a remarkable achievement and a reflection of his dedication, expertise, and contribution to poisons information services.

Congratulations Mark! The Malta National Poisons Centre is incredibly proud of you and wishes you every success in this important role. 🇲🇹👏

🇲🇹 L-avvelenament minn skombrojde (scombroid) iseħħ meta ċerti ħut 🐠 (bħal tonn, kavall, jew lampuki) ma jinżammux fit-temperatura t-tajba. Il-batterji (bacteria) jipproduċu sustanza li tissejjaħ istamina (histamine), li ma tiġix distrutta bis-sħana tat-tisjir.

🤒 Is-sintomi jistgħu jinkludu: Fwawar jew ħmura fil-ġilda, ħakk, uġigħ ta' ras, għaraq, togħma ta' ħruq jew bżar, dardir u dijarea. Dawn is-sintomi jidhru malajr, ħafna drabi fi ftit minuti sa siegħa wara l-ikel.

🛑 Kif tipprevjeni:
• Ixtri minn postijiet li tafda
• Żomm il-ħut f’temperatura addattata (taħt l-4°C). Dan jgħodd ukoll waqt it-trasport mill-ħanut sad-dar.
• Jekk għandek xi dubju, tiklux

💡 Ftakar: Il-ħasil, l-ifriżar, jew it-tisjir tal-ħut li ġie kkontaminat MA JAGĦMLUX sigur.

🇬🇧 Scombroid poisoning occurs when certain fish 🐠 (such as tuna, mackerel, or mahi-mahi) are not kept at the right temperature. Bacteria produce a substance called histamine, which is not destroyed by the heat of cooking.

🤒 Symptoms may include: Flushing or redness of the skin, itching, headache, sweating, a burning or peppery taste, nausea, and diarrhea. These symptoms appear quickly, often within a few minutes to an hour after eating.

🛑 How to prevent:
• Buy from places you trust
• Keep fish at a suitable temperature (below 4°C). This also applies during transport from the store to your home.
• If in doubt, don't eat it

💡 Remember: Washing, freezing, or cooking contaminated fish DOES NOT make it safe.

🇲🇹 Xi ħut li jinsab fl-ibħra Maltin jista’ jikkawża ivvalenar permezz ta’ tingiża, speċjalment jekk jintrifes jew jinqabad bl-idejn. Eżempji komuni huma t-traċna u s-sawt, l-iskorfna u ċ-ċippullazza, il-qawsalla u l-boll.

Dan il-ħut mhuwiex naturalment aggressiv, u ħafna mit-tingiż relatat jiġi kawża ta’ inċident - speċjalment f’ilma baxx jew waqt is-sajd.

⚠️ Is-sintomi jistgħu jinkludu:
• Uġigħ qawwi
• Nefħa u ħmura
• Dardir jew sturdament

👉 X’għandek tagħmel:
• Oħroġ mill-ilma b’mod sigur
• Aħsel iż-żona
• Applika misħun (temperatura għolja imma tollerabbli) biex tnaqqas l-uġigħ

❗Evita li tmiss ħut li ma tagħrafx u oqgħod attent fejn tkun miexi fl-ilma baxx.
📞 Ċempel 1774 tniggiżt minn xi ħuta velenuża.

🇬🇧 Some fish found in Maltese waters can cause painful stings if stepped on or handled. Common examples include the weeverfish, scorpionfish, rabbitfish, and stingray.

These fish are not aggressive by nature, but stings often happen accidentally — especially when walking in shallow water or handling catches.

⚠️ Symptoms may include:
• Intense pain
• Swelling and redness
• Occasionally nausea or dizziness

👉 What to do:
• Leave the water safely
• Rinse the area
• Apply hot water (as hot as can be tolerated) to help relieve pain

❗Avoid handling unknown fish and be cautious in shallow waters.
📞 Call 1774 if you’ve been stung by a poisonous species.

🇲🇹 Tingiż tal-bram: X'għandek tagħmel (u x'm'għandekx tagħmel)
Tingiż tal-bram huwa komuni, speċjalment matul ix-xhur tas-sajf f'Malta. Ħafna minnhom ikunu ħfief, iżda l-ewwel għajnuna mhux korretta tista' taggrava s-sitwazzjoni.

👉 X'għandek tagħmel:
• Laħlaħ iż-żona affettwata bl-ilma baħar
• Applika paste tal-baking soda (ħallat partijiet indaqs mal-ilma baħar), jekk disponibbli
• Neħħi bir-reqqa kwalunkwe tentakli viżibbli
• Applika s-sħana (l-ilma sħun jista' jgħin biex inaqqas l-uġigħ)

❌ X'm'għandekx tagħmel:
• TUŻAX ilma ħelu - jista' jaggrava s-sitwazzjoni
• TOGĦROKX jew TĦOKKX iż-żona affetwata
• TAPPLIKAX alkoħol, ħall (sakemm ma jkunx irrakkomandat), jew awrina

⚠️ Fittex għajnuna jekk ikun hemm uġigħ qawwi, ħmura li qed tinfirex, jew sintomi allerġiċi
📞 Ċempel 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 jekk m’intix ċert x’għandek tagħmel.

🇬🇧 🌊 Jellyfish stings: What to do (and what NOT to do)
Jellyfish stings are common, especially during the summer months in Malta. Most are mild, but incorrect first aid can make things worse.

👉 What to do:
• Rinse the area with seawater
• Apply baking soda paste (mix equal parts with seawater), if available
• Carefully remove any visible tentacles
• Apply heat (hot water can help reduce pain)

❌ What NOT to do:
• Do NOT use fresh water - it can worsen the situation
• Do NOT rub or scratch the area
• Do NOT apply alcohol, vinegar (unless advised), or urine

⚠️ Seek help if there is severe pain, spreading redness, or allergic symptoms
📞 Call 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 if unsure what to do.

Aktar kmieni fuq Radju Malta

Il-Polz taċ-Ċittadin tat-Tlieta, 12 ta' Mejju fuq Radju Malta 93.7 FM.
Se niddiskutu: Hu kkalkulat li f'pajjiżna, it-tobba jaraw mal-2,500 każ ta' persuni li jkunu kkonsmaw xi tip ta' velenu. X'għajnuna teżisti?
Se jkollna mistiedna magħna lil Dr Jeffrey Bonnici u lill-Ispiżjar Mark Lawrence Zammit mill-Malta National Poisons Centre
Is-semmiegħa jistgħu jipparteċipaw billi jċemplu fuq 22913395 jew WhatsApp 99009937.

🇲🇹 𝗔𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘇𝘇𝗷𝗼𝗻𝗶 𝘀𝗶𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗹-𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶

👨‍⚕️Dejjem ikkonferma d-doża ma' professjonist tas-saħħa. Xi misturi, speċjalment dawk intenzjonati għat-tfal, jeħtieġu volumi żgħar ħafna, xi kultant anke inqas minn 1 mL

💉 Uża siringa jew medicines cup biex tkejjel id-doża. Dan huwa l-aktar mod preċiż biex tiżgura li qed tagħti l-ammont korrett 🎯

❌ Tużax kuċċarini tad-dar Dawn ivarjaw fid-daqs u jistgħu jwasslu biex tingħata doża żbaljata

📞 Jekk tissuspetta li tajt doża żejda, ċempel lill-Malta National Poisons Centre fuq 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 għall-parir.

🇬🇧 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘆𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘀

👨‍⚕️Always confirm the dose with a healthcare professional. Some syrups, especially those intended for children, require very small volumes, sometimes even less than 1 mL.

💉 Use a syringe or a medicine cup to measure the dose. This is the most accurate way to ensure you are giving the correct amount 🎯

❌ Do not use household teaspoons These vary in size and may lead to an incorrect dose being administered

📞 If you suspect you have overdosed, call the Malta National Poisons Centre on 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 for advice.

🇲🇹 Illum ser nagħtu ħarsa lejn xi jfisser il-logo tagħna...

Il-logo tal-𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 jirrapreżenta t-tipi differenti ta’ avvelenament li niltaqgħu magħhom ta’ kuljum. Kull simbolu għandu t-tifsira tiegħu:

🐍 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐩 - Gdim u tingiż minn annimali velenużi. Dan jissimbolizza wkoll servizzi tas-saħħa.
💊 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚 - Mediċini, vitamini, minerali u dożi eċċessivi
🧪 𝐊𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐤𝐚 - Kimiċi kemm tad-dar u anke industrijali
🌿 𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐪𝐚 - Pjanti, fjuri u sustanzi oħra naturali

Avvelenament kapaċi jiġi kkaġunat b’ modi u sorsi diversi.
📞 Għalhekk, aħna qegħdin hawn biex nagħtuk parir professjonali u bla ħlas meta jkollok bżonn. Żomm in-numru tagħna: 𝟏𝟕𝟕𝟒

🇬🇧 Today we'll take a look at what our logo means...

The 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 logo represents the different types of poisoning we deal with on a daily basis. Each symbol has a meaning:

🐍 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 - Animal envenomation (bites and stings). It also symbolises healthcare services.
💊 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐞 - Medications, vitamins, supplements and overdoses
🧪 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 - Household and industrial chemicals
🌿 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟 - Plants, flowers and other natural toxins

Poisoning can happen in many ways and through various sources.
📞 That’s why we’re here to provide free, expert advice whenever you need it. Save our number: 𝟏𝟕𝟕𝟒

🇲🇹 Inġestjoni aċċidentali ta’ pjanti 🌿kapaċi tiġri ta’ malajr, speċjalment f’ każijiet ta’ tfal li jkunu qed jesploraw id-dinja ta' madwarhom.

⚠️Bosta pjanti mhumiex perikolużi, iżda oħrajn, fosthom b***a speċi komuni, jistgħu jikkawżaw avvelenament jew irritazzjoni. Is-sintomi jistgħu jinkludu dardir, rimettar, irritazzjoni, jew sturdament, però dawn mhux dejjem jidhru immedjatament.

👉 F’din is-sitwazzjoni, importanti li:
1. Tneħħi kull fdal tal-pjanta mil-ħalq.
2. Tlaħlaħ il-ħalq sew bl-ilma.
3. Jekk ikun possibbli, ħu ritratt jew innota l-isem tal-pjanta biex tgħin l-esperti fl-identifikazzjoni.

QATT iġġiegħel lill-persuna involuta tirremmetti!
Tagħtix ikel jew xorb qabel tieħu parir ta’ espert!

📞 Ċempel 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 minnufih – anke jekk għadhom mhux jidhru sintomi.

🇬🇧 Accidental plant 🌿ingestions may happen very quickly, especially with children exploring their surroundings.

⚠️Some plants are harmless, but others, including several commonly occurring species, can cause poisoning or irritation. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, irritation, or dizziness, but they don’t always appear immediately.

👉 If a plant has been ingested:
1. Remove any remaining parts of the plant from the mouth.
2. Rinse the mouth gently with water.
3. If possible, capture a photo or note the name of the plant to help with identification.

📞 Call 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 immediately - even if there are no symptoms.

𝟭𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗾 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 💙
Grazzi tal-appoġġ kontinwu tagħkom. Dan jgħinna naqsmu informazzjoni dwar il-prevenzjoni tal-avvelenament u x'għandek tagħmel jekk dan iseħħ.

Għinna nilħqu aktar nies billi tagħmel tag lil xi ħadd li għandu jkun jaf dwarna u dwar il-helpline tagħna: 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰. Ejjew inkomplu nagħmlu djarna u ħajjietna aktar siguri, flimkien!

𝟭𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 💙
Thank you for your continued support. It helps us share information on poisoning prevention and what to do if it happens.

Help us reach more people by tagging someone who should know about us and our helpline: 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰. Let’s continue making our homes and lives safer, together!