08 Protection Guide
I have been engaged in mycology research for more than 20 years and have participated in dozens of mushroom poisoning investigations. The most heartbreaking cases always involve children and pets.Their curiosity, exploration instinct and smaller weight make them the most vulnerable victims of poisoning.This guide will provide you with a comprehensive protection strategy based on scientific evidence and practical experience.
Weight Factors:
- The effect of the same toxin dose on children is increasing exponentially
- Take Amanita as an example: The lethal dose for adults is about 50 grams, while 10 kg children only need 5-10 grams
- Children's metabolism is faster, and toxin absorption and distribution are faster
- The liver detoxification system has not yet fully developed and its detoxification ability is limited
Risk of dehydration:
- Children's body fluids account for a higher proportion of weight (75% of newborns and 60% of adults)
- Vomiting and diarrhea lead to rapid loss of fluid
- Severe vomiting in just a few hours can lead to hypovolemia shock
- Electrolyte imbalances have a more serious impact on children and may cause arrhythmia
Oral exploration phase:
- Children aged 1-3 years old know the world through oral is a normal development stage
- On average, young children put their hands or objects into their mouths 10-15 times per hour
- Brightly colored mushrooms (such as poisonous fly umbrellas) have a special attraction to young children
- Children lack the concept of danger, judge only based on appearance
Imitation behavior:
- Children naturally imitate parental behavior, including mushroom collection
- Seeing parents collecting mushrooms in the wild, they may try it on their own
- The image of mushrooms in TV shows and games is often beautified and misleads children
Cognitive limitations:
- Children under 7 years old have difficulty understanding the concept of "potential danger"
- Can't distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous similar species
- Mushrooms may be mistaken for familiar foods (such as mistaken for eggs)
2019 Washington State Case: A 3-year-old boy discovered and swallowed a small amount of poisonous amanita while playing in his grandmotherβs backyard.Vomiting occurred 2 hours later, and the parents mistakenly thought it was a common stomach disease.After 8 hours, the symptoms will be temporarily relieved (during the holiday), and parents will relax their vigilance.He developed liver failure 24 hours later and unfortunately died despite full rescue efforts.The autopsy found that less than 5 grams of mushrooms were consumed.
Key lessons:
- Don't wait for the symptoms to relieve themselves
- Any wild mushroom intake should be considered a medical emergency
- Fake healing period is a fatal trap, and relief of symptoms does not mean that danger is relieved
Garden Inspection Agreement:
*Experts suggest*: Establish a weekly routine inspection system, pay special attention to the following high-risk areas:
- Under trees and around bushes (especially oaks and birch)
- Wood chip covered garden bed
- Wet and shaded areas
- Around the compost bin
- Lawn edges and irrigation areas
Professional Removal Technology:
1. Wear disposable gloves (toxins may be absorbed through the skin)
2. Use a small spatula to ensure complete removal of mycelium
3. Put the mushrooms in a sealed plastic bag
4. Discard in the outdoor trash can with lid
5. Cleaning tools to avoid spore transmission
*Quick Tips*: Check it within 24-48 hours after the rain, which is the peak period for mushroom growth.
Landscape Design Prevention:
- Improve drainage and reduce persistent wet areas
- Flip the compost regularly to destroy mycelium growth
- Consider using fungal inhibitors that are safe for pets
- Lay temporary coverings during the peak season of mushrooms
Preschool children (3-5 years old):
- Use simple and clear language: "The mushrooms outside can make your stomach hurt"
- Establish behavioral rules: "See mushrooms and tell adults"
- Use visual aids: red "X" to mark dangerous items
- Strengthen information through role-playing
Primary school stage (6-12 years old):
- Explain the basic scientific principle: Some mushrooms produce natural toxins
- Professors identify features, but emphasize the need for expert identification
- Share real age-appropriate cases (no excessive fear)
- Participate in safe educational activities such as visiting the Botanical Garden Mushroom Exhibition
Teenagers (13 years and over):
- In-depth explanation of fungal biology and toxin action mechanism
- If you are interested, you can learn basic appraisal under strict supervision
- Emphasize responsibility and risk awareness
- Encourage participation in youth programs at local fungi societies
Outdoor Activities Supervision Guide:
- Increase alertness during the peak season of mushrooms (spring and autumn)
- Understand local toxic mushroom species and growth patterns
- Teach other caregivers (nanny, grandparents) family safety rules
- Safety standards for parents of children's friends
Mushroom Picking Activity Supervision:
- Only children over 12 years old are allowed to participate in the collection under direct supervision
- Clear rules: All collected mushrooms must be inspected by adults
- Assign age-appropriate tasks: taking pictures, recording, carrying baskets
- Focus on education rather than harvest
Gastric Intestinal Poisoning (Most Common):
- Symptoms appear 30 minutes to 3 hours after intake
- Severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
- May cause severe dehydration
- Representative mushrooms: Pineapple, Lactobacillus
Hepatic damage type (most dangerous):
- Stage 1 (6-24 hours): vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
- Stage 2 (24-48 hours): Symptom relief (fake recovery period)
- Stage 3 (48-72 hours): liver failure, jaundice, coma
- Representative mushrooms: Amanita, Death Cap
Neuropsychiatric type:
- Symptoms appear 30 minutes to 2 hours after intake
- Swallowing, tears, shrinking or dilated pupils
- Excitement, hallucination, ataxia
- Representative mushrooms: poisonous fly umbrella, spotted mushroom
Quick Tips: Record the start time of symptoms, the appearance of mushrooms, and intake, and this information is crucial for treatment.
Infants and Toddlers:
- Extremely lethargic or irritable
- Refusal to eat
- Continuous crying or unusually quiet
School-age children:
- Confused consciousness or disordered direction
- Unclear speech
- Sudden change of behavior
General warning:
- Any sudden symptoms that occur after outdoor activities
- Especially during the peak period of mushroom growth in spring and autumn
- Even if the symptoms are mild, you should not be ignored
1. Keep calm assessment:
- Check for mushroom residues in children's mouth
- Ask other children if they have also been exposed to mushrooms
- Find nearby mushroom samples that may be ingested
2. Call first aid:
- Call 911 immediately or the local poison control center (1-800-222-1222)
- Accurately provide: children's age, weight, and symptoms description
- Report the types of mushrooms that may be ingested (if known)
3. Evidence Collection:
- Collect complete mushroom samples (including underground sections)
- Take photos to record the growth environment of mushrooms
- Save vomit or feces samples
- Record the symptom timeline
Don't try to induce vomiting:
- Unless otherwise explicitly directed by a medical professional
- Certain toxins can cause secondary esophageal damage
- Inhalation pneumonia may occur when the level of consciousness changes
Don't use home remedies:
- Milk cannot detoxify, but may accelerate the absorption of toxins
- Activated carbon should only be used under medical supervision
- Folk therapy has no scientific basis and delays treatment
Don't wait for observation:
- Some of the most dangerous mushroom poisoning has delayed symptoms
- Early medical intervention is key to survival
- Medical evaluation should be given even if there is no symptoms
- Mushroom samples (separately packed with collection location)
- Detailed records of symptoms (start time, development process)
- Children's medical information (alleviation history)
- Insurance Information
- Change of clothing and personal supplies (preparing for possible hospitalization)
Species Differences:
- Dog: Most common poisoning, accounting for 85% of pet mushroom poisoning cases
- Cats: More picky but still risky, especially young cats
- Other pets: rabbits, hamsters, etc. may also be poisoned
Behavioral Risk:
- Dogs explore the world with their mouths, and may be accidentally ingested
- Certain varieties (Labrador, Golden Retriever) are particularly greedy
- Exploration behaviors during walks increase exposure risk
- Pets cannot express discomfort until symptoms are severe
Phyalmic Differences:
- Small dogs and cats are more sensitive to toxins
- Pet liver metabolic system is different from humans
- Certain mushrooms that are safe for humans are toxic to pets
Early symptoms:
- Vomiting, diarrhea (the most common first symptoms)
- Too much salivation
- abdominal pain symptoms (bow back, unwilling to move)
- Lethargy or unusually quiet
Progressive Symptoms:
- Ataxia (walking and shaking)
- Muscle tremor or twitching
- Pupil abnormality (dilated or reduced)
- Jaundice (gums, whites turn yellow)
Nervous Symptoms:
- Extremely excited or depressed
- Response to invisible stimuli
- Disorders
- Coma
Garden Management Upgrade:
- Daily checks for mushroom season (especially after rain)
- Isolate high-risk areas with pet safety fences
- Consider professional lawn treatment to reduce mushroom growth
Dog Walking Safety Agreement:
- Always use traction rope to control the exploration range
- Training "let go" and "get away" commands
- Carrying distractions (toys, snacks) to divert attention
- Choose routes with fewer mushrooms
Training Skills:
- "Leave" training with simulated mushrooms
- Positively strengthen the correct behavior
- Consistency is key, all family members use the same command
- Consider professional trainer assistance
Action now:
1. If you witness the intake, try to safely take the residue in the exit
2. Contact your veterinary or animal poison control center immediately (888-426-4435)
3. Collect mushroom samples and vomit
4. Prepare to go to the animal hospital
Veterinary Treatment Expectations:
- Induce vomiting (if ingestion is within 2 hours)
- activated carbon administration
- Intravenous infusion support
- Blood monitoring organ function
- Symptom-based treatment (anti-convulsion, liver protection)
Prognostic factors:
- Mushroom types and intake
- Time from intake to treatment
- Pet age, breed and basic health status
- Treatment response status
Neighborhood Watch:
- Organize community mushroom safety inspection day
- Share local toxic mushroom information
- Establish a network of parents and pet owners
- Shared by the park management department to clean up regularly
Educational Resource Development:
- Work with local schools to carry out safety education
- Invite mycologists for community lectures
- Make local toxic mushroom recognition map
- Create a community emergency contact list
Identify application usage:
- Record local mushrooms using iNaturalist and other applications
- But emphasize: Application identification is irreplaceable for expert identification
- As an educational and recording tool only
Monitoring System:
- Set up high-risk areas for yard monitoring and observation
- Predicting mushroom growth conditions using weather applications
- Join the local fungi to learn to get seasonal alerts
Seasonal Preparation:
- Spring: Check for winter residues and prepare for protection
- Summer: Monitor irrigation areas and pay attention to growth after rain
- Autumn: Peak season, increase inspection frequency
- Winter: Clean up rotten substrates and reduce growth in the coming year
Family Emergency Drill:
- Regular review of emergency contact information
- Practice sample collection and preservation techniques
- Update first aid kit and hospital information
- Review the recognition of poisoning symptoms
Protecting children and pets from mushroom poisoning is not a one-time task, but requires continuous practices that are integrated into daily life.By understanding risks, implementing preventive measures and preparing for emergency responses, we can significantly reduce the probability of poisoning.
Remember these key principles:
1. Assuming all wild mushrooms are poisonous unless identified by experts
2. Regular inspection is more effective than emergency treatment
3. Education is the first line of defense for prevention
4. Time is the most critical factor in the treatment of poisoning
5. Community CooperationAmplify the protection effect
Dedicate a few minutes of daily check-ups, establish clear family rules, and prepare contingency plans β these simple measures can prevent tragedy.As responsible family guardians, our vigilance is the most reliable protection for children and pets.
Emergency Contact:
- US Centers for Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
- Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435
- North American Fungal Society: Provide recommendations from local experts
Educational Materials:
- "Mushroom Safe Children's Picture Book" (suitable for 3-8 years old)
- American Fungus Society Safety Education Program
- Mushroom exhibition in the local botanical garden and nature center
Practical Tools:
- Sample collection pack (sealed bag, gloves, small spatula)
- Emergency contact card (can be put into the wallet)
- Local toxic mushroom identification map
Stay safe, keep learning continuously, and protect your most cherished family members.Every minute of investment in prevention is the best investment in life.
1. Life safety first: There are inherent risks in the identification of wild mushrooms.Many toxic mushrooms look very similar to edible mushrooms, and accidentally ingesting them can lead to serious illness or even death.
2. Professional identification required: Before eating any wild mushrooms, 100% confirmation must be performed by a professional mycologist or certified mushroom identification expert.Photos, text descriptions and personal experience are not sufficient to ensure safety.
3. Individual Differences: Even recognized edible mushrooms may cause adverse reactions due to factors such as personal constitution, allergic reactions, consumption method or mushroom growth environment.Try in small quantities when eating a new variety for the first time.
4. Geographical differences: There are huge differences in mushroom species and toxicity in different regions.The information mentioned in this article may not apply to your region.Please consult local mycology experts and authoritative organizations.
5. Professional Responsibility: The author and the publisher shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damage, disease or loss arising from the use of the information in this article.
- β Participate in formal mushroom identification training courses
- β Join the local mycology association or mushroom club
- β Purchase cultivated mushrooms from reliable sources
- β Save mushroom samples for emergency medical needs
- β Do not eat it if you have any doubts