ABSTRACT
Background: English as a Second Language (ESL) classes provide an ideal environment to provide health education and collaboration. The PCC developed a Poison Prevention and Medicine Safety Program for ESL Instructors and Students. Each lesson promotes skills-based learning along with literacy development based on goals and measurable objectives. The lessons incorporated PCC-related vocabulary words, role playing (calling the PCC, asking questions about medicines), word development activities, and using PCC materials. Discussion sections provided an opportunity for the students to familiarize themselves with the PCC materials and content. Guided comprehension questions and answers illustrated the teaching material and objectives for the lesson. Although initially in-person, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, ESL classes were moved to remote formats. As a result, the PCC ESL Program was also formatted in an electronic version. Our goals were to learn how the program was utilized, the comfort of the participants with the material, and the perceived interest and comfort of participants with the curriculum. Method(s): One-hour webinar training sessions for ESL instructors were offered to present the program components. ESL instructors throughout the PCC catchment area were invited to participate via email. After the training session, each participant was emailed the electronic version of the program and instructor's guide to use for teaching online classes. Participants were able to request the manual if needed for in-person teaching. Follow-up surveys were sent via email 1 month after each training using Survey Gizmo. The participants were asked to rate program content, PCC materials, and student reactions to the topics. Three email attempts were made to complete the follow-up survey. Result(s): Between September 2021 and January 2022, 10 training sessions were provided to a total of 154 participants. Follow-up surveys were collected from training participants in October 2020, January, June, and November 2021, and February 2022. A total of 61 participants completed 80 follow-up surveys (12 participants completed more than one survey). Of the 61 participants, 29 surveys (completed by 20 participants) reported using the PCC ESL program. Most (26;90%) used the content online, two in person and one used it with another lesson. The activity sheets used most often were role playing activities: Calling the PCC (21/22;95%) and Asking Questions about Medicines (14/22;64%). Most responses rated the brochures (16/29;55%), fact sheets (17/29;59%) and instructor's guide (20/29;69%) as "very helpful." All responses (23/23;100% indicated they were "comfortable" or "very comfortable" presenting the material. Participants that felt most of students they taught would be either "extremely" or "somewhat comfortable" (22/29;76%) calling the PCC after the lessons. It was also reported that students were more interested in the topic of medicine safety (23/29;79%) compared to poison prevention (18/26;69%). All responses (29;100%) indicated they would recommend the PCC program to other ESL instructors. Conclusion(s): Offering a PCC ESL program focusing on poison prevention and medicine safety combines authentic learning with health information. Follow-up surveys showed that participants were comfortable presenting the content and would recommend the program. Future steps include an evaluation of the training once classes are fully back to in-person.
ABSTRACT
The objective of the article was to assess whether there might be a possible association between COVID-19 cleaning recommendations from public health agencies and the media and the number of chemical exposures reported to the National Poison Data System. CDC and the American Association of Poison Control Centers surveillance team compared the number of exposures reported for the period January-March 2020 with the number of reports during the same 3-month period in 2018 and 2019. Fifty-five poison centers in the United States provide free, 24-hour professional advice and medical management information regarding exposures to poisons, chemicals, drugs, and medications. During January-March 2020, poison centers received 45,550 exposure calls related to cleaners (28,158) and disinfectants (17,392), representing overall increases of 20.4% and 16.4% from January-March 2019 (37,822) and January-March 2018 (39,122), respectively. Although NPDS data do not provide information showing a definite link between exposures and COVID-19 cleaning efforts, there appears to be a clear temporal association with increased use of these products.