MADISON – Student artists Aidan Franks and Madison Castillo rated in top places in the 2017 Poison Prevention Art Contest, sponsored by Alabama Pharmacy Association.

Franks claimed first-place honors in the contest, while Castillo was close by in second place for the contest’s category for sixth- through eighth-graders. Because Franks earned first place, his artwork will be submitted into the national poster contest that the American Association of Poison Control Centers sponsors.

Frank’s design depicts a young boy who is alarmed with an opened prescription bottle and its spilled pills near his building blocks.

For her poster, Castillo drew a girl who is confused and overwhelmed by the many pills and capsules that are available in stores and advertised on television. Castillo shows the girl’s moral dilemma with an angel on one shoulder, a devil on the other.  

Raquel Spiegel is their art teacher at Discovery.

“More than 60,000 young children end up in emergency departments every year because they get into medicines while a parent or caregiver is not looking,” Leisa Johnson said. Johnson is Communications Director for Alabama Pharmacy Association.

The pharmacy association held the contest for its sixth year during National Poison Prevention Week in March 2017. The goal for the contest is to increase medication safety and poison prevention awareness among children.

The 2017 theme was “Home Safe Home.” The contest was open to Alabama children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers supports the nation’s 55 poison centers in their efforts to prevent and treat poison exposures. The association’s mission is to actively advance the health care role and public health mission of members through information, advocacy, education and research.

Poison centers offer free, confidential, expert medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 or visit PoisonHelp.org.

For more information about poison awareness and the Council’s 50 Tips to Prevent Poisoning guide, call 703-894-1858, email info@aapcc.org or visit aapcc.org/prevention/nppw or aparx.org.