A Shropshire mother is urging parents to be vigilant after her one-year-old daughter was poisoned by a common garden plant. Daisy Hall, 34, from Shrewsbury, was visiting Attingham Park with her four children on May 31 when she noticed her daughter, Winnie, chewing on a rhododendron flower while in her pushchair. After a quick Google search, Daisy discovered the plant is highly toxic to humans and rushed Winnie to Shrewsbury Hospital for treatment.
Immediate Action Required
Rhododendron poisoning can cause nausea, dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision, and vomiting. At the hospital, Winnie was given activated charcoal mixed with water, administered orally through a syringe. The charcoal works by binding the poison to prevent absorption into the body. She was monitored with an ECG for six hours before being discharged, with further observation at home for 24 hours.
Raising Awareness Online
Daisy shared her experience online, garnering over 7.1 million views. Many commenters admitted they would not have thought to check if a flower was poisonous. Daisy said: “People online have said ‘I wouldn’t even think to check’ and ‘it’s made me think differently.’” She emphasized the importance of identifying plants and not relying on AI for diagnosis.
Daisy, a business owner, had recently taken up gardening, which prompted her to Google the flower. She also consulted her mother, Debbie, a 63-year-old nurse, and called 111 en route to the hospital. “If I had waited for an ambulance, she’d have probably been over the time frame for the charcoal,” Daisy explained. The charcoal must be given within an hour to be effective.
Community Response
The post has sparked discussions about other poisonous plants, with many parents sharing their own experiences. Despite a few trolls, Daisy says the overwhelming response has been positive. Rhododendrons contain grayanotoxins, which are harmful to both humans and animals if ingested.
