Frank comes home after picking up a new prescription. At the pharmacy, he said he didn’t have any questions—but now he’s unsure how to take it. The label reads: “take two pills daily.” Does that mean one in the morning and one in the afternoon? Or both at the same time? Instead of calling the pharmacy or his doctor, Frank decides not to take the medication at all. He’s worried about getting it wrong.

Have you ever read the poison control warnings on common household items—cleaners, batteries, or even medicines—and thought, who would ever try to eat this? Most of us assume poison exposure is rare or unlikely to happen at home. It is far more common than people realize. It happens in everyday environments, often involving familiar products we use without a second thought. In fact, the Arkansas Poison Center receives around 65 to 70 calls per day about exposures happening at home—and that does not include the many cases that go unreported. So what risks are hiding in plain sight, and how can we better support patient awareness and prevention?