Malta National Poisons Centre

17/06/2026

🇲🇹 Il-BBQs huma mod sabiħ kif tqatta’ ftit ħin fuq barra man-nies qrib tiegħek. Madankollu, il-gass, il-faħam u prodotti biex tqabbad in-nar kapaċi jkunu perikolużi jekk ma jintużawx sew.

⚠️ Riskji komuni jinkludu:
• Ħruq
• Espożizzjoni għall-carbon monoxide
• Leaks tal-gass
• Inġestjoni aċċidentali ta’ kimiċi li jqabbdu n-nar

👉 Biex tibqa’ sigur:
• Dejjem uża l-BBQ fuq barra, f’post ivventilat sew.
• Żomm lit-tfal ’il-bogħod minn sorsi ta’ sħana u kimiċi.
• Qatt tuża petrol, alkoħol jew fjuwils oħra biex tqabbad in-nar.
• Iċċekkja ċ-ċilindri u l-konnessjonijiet tal-gass qabel l-użu.
• Ħalli l-faħam jiksaħ kompletament qabel tarmi.
Dawn huma ftit prekawzjonijiet żgħar li jistgħu jgħinu sabiex jiġu evitati inċidenti kbar.

📞 Jekk tissuspetta espożizzjoni jew avvelenament, ċempel 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰.

🇬🇧 BBQs are a great way to enjoy time outdoors with people close to you. However, gas, charcoal, and lighting products can pose serious risks if used incorrectly.

⚠️ Common hazards include:
• Burns and flare-ups
• Carbon monoxide exposure
• Gas leaks
• Accidental ingestion of lighting fluids or other related chemicals

👉 To stay safe:
• Always BBQ outdoors in a well-ventilated area
• Keep children away from hot surfaces and chemicals
• Never use petrol, alcohol or other fuels to start a fire
• Check gas cylinders and connections before use
• Allow charcoal and ashes to cool completely before disposal
A few simple precautions can help prevent serious consequences.

📞 If exposure or poisoning is suspected, call 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 for advice.

10/06/2026

🇲🇹 Tingiż fil-Baħar: X’għandek tagħmel u x’għandek tevita 🌊
Jekk titniggez minn xi annimal tal-baħar, ibqa’ kalm u aġixxi malajr. It-trattament jista’ jvarja skont it-tip ta’ gdim, iżda b’mod ġenerali:

✅ X’għandek tagħmel:
• Oħroġ mill-baħar
• Laħlaħ iż-żona b’ilma tal-baħar
• Neħħi kull tentaklu jew xewka (jekk possibbli uża pinzetta)
• Għall-uġigħ (speċjalment minn ħut), għaddas il-parti affetwata f’ilma sħun
• Żomm iż-żona nadifa u osserva għal nefħa jew uġigħ li jkompli jiżdied
• Fittex għajnuna medika jekk is-sintomi jkunu severi jew jinfirxu

❌ X’għandek tevita:
• Tużax ilma ħelu biex tlaħlaħ
• Togħrokx jew tħokkx iż-żona
• Tippruvax tneħħi x-xewk bil-forza

☎️ Jekk għandek dubju, ċempel 1774 għall-parir.

🇬🇧 Marine Stings: What to do & what to avoid 🌊
If you are stung at the beach, remain calm and act promptly. Management may vary depending on the type of marine sting, but in general:

✅ What to do:
• Get out of the water
• Rinse the area with seawater
• Carefully remove any tentacles or spines (use tweezers if available)
• For painful stings (especially from fish), immerse the affected area in warm water
• Keep the area clean and monitor for worsening pain or swelling
• Seek medical advice if symptoms are severe or spreading

❌ What NOT to do:
• Do NOT rinse with fresh water
• Do NOT rub or scratch the area
• Do NOT attempt to remove spines forcefully

☎️ If in doubt, call 1774 for advice.

03/06/2026

🇲🇹 Ilbieraħ ħabbarna r-rebbieħa tal-kompetizzjoni tal-espressjoni artistika dwar il- prevenzjoni mill-avvelenament. Illum, qed naqsmu magħkom l-aqwa sottomissjonijiet li rċevejna mingħand studenti minn madwar Malta u Għawdex.

Għal darb'oħra, prosit lil dawn l-ambaxxaturi żgħar talli xerrdu dan il-messaġġ bl-aktar mod kreattiv!

🇬🇧 Yesterday we announced the winners of the Poison Prevention Artistic Expression Competition 2026. Today, we are sharing with you some of the best submissions we received from students from all over Malta and Gozo.

Once again, congratulations to these young ambassadors for spreading this message in the most creative way!

03/06/2026

🇲🇹 Is-servizz fuq TVMnews dwar il-kompetizzjoni ta' espressjoni artistika fuq il-prevenzjoni mill-avvelenament.

🇬🇧 The feature on TVMnews about the Poison Prevention artistic expression competition.

Il-Malta National Poison Centre, flimkien mal-Ministeru tal-Edukazzjoni, organizza attività edukattiva li wasslet biex ġew ippremjati…

02/06/2026

Today we had the pleasure of presenting the awards to the winners of the Poison Prevention Artistic Expression Competition 2026. It was a lovely morning during which we recognised the creativity, effort, and important messages shared by these young Poison Prevention Ambassadors. 👏

A huge well done to:

Daniel Lysak - Sliema Primary
Amelia Glanville - Żurrieq Primary
Shefali Patnaik - Saint Anne Primary Marsascala
Emma Falzon Scerri - Sacred Heart Junior School
Leia Gauci - Naxxar Primary
Jael Refalo - Victoria Primary
Kay Callus Schembri - Luqa Primary
Elias Paul Cutajar - Fgura Primary
Alessia Calleja - St Aloysius Primary
Zoe Amberley Cachon - Siġġiewi Primary
Juliette Lopez - Kalkara Primary

Thank you to all participating students, educators, and schools for supporting poison prevention awareness through art and creativity. 💚

28/05/2026

We are proud to share some wonderful news!

Our colleague, Mark Zammit, has been appointed President of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists.

This is a remarkable achievement and a reflection of his dedication, expertise, and contribution to poisons information services.

Congratulations Mark! The Malta National Poisons Centre is incredibly proud of you and wishes you every success in this important role. 🇲🇹👏

27/05/2026

🇲🇹 L-avvelenament minn skombrojde (scombroid) iseħħ meta ċerti ħut 🐠 (bħal tonn, kavall, jew lampuki) ma jinżammux fit-temperatura t-tajba. Il-batterji (bacteria) jipproduċu sustanza li tissejjaħ istamina (histamine), li ma tiġix distrutta bis-sħana tat-tisjir.

🤒 Is-sintomi jistgħu jinkludu: Fwawar jew ħmura fil-ġilda, ħakk, uġigħ ta' ras, għaraq, togħma ta' ħruq jew bżar, dardir u dijarea. Dawn is-sintomi jidhru malajr, ħafna drabi fi ftit minuti sa siegħa wara l-ikel.

🛑 Kif tipprevjeni:
• Ixtri minn postijiet li tafda
• Żomm il-ħut f’temperatura addattata (taħt l-4°C). Dan jgħodd ukoll waqt it-trasport mill-ħanut sad-dar.
• Jekk għandek xi dubju, tiklux

💡 Ftakar: Il-ħasil, l-ifriżar, jew it-tisjir tal-ħut li ġie kkontaminat MA JAGĦMLUX sigur.

🇬🇧 Scombroid poisoning occurs when certain fish 🐠 (such as tuna, mackerel, or mahi-mahi) are not kept at the right temperature. Bacteria produce a substance called histamine, which is not destroyed by the heat of cooking.

🤒 Symptoms may include: Flushing or redness of the skin, itching, headache, sweating, a burning or peppery taste, nausea, and diarrhea. These symptoms appear quickly, often within a few minutes to an hour after eating.

🛑 How to prevent:
• Buy from places you trust
• Keep fish at a suitable temperature (below 4°C). This also applies during transport from the store to your home.
• If in doubt, don't eat it

💡 Remember: Washing, freezing, or cooking contaminated fish DOES NOT make it safe.

21/05/2026

🇲🇹 Xi ħut li jinsab fl-ibħra Maltin jista’ jikkawża ivvalenar permezz ta’ tingiża, speċjalment jekk jintrifes jew jinqabad bl-idejn. Eżempji komuni huma t-traċna u s-sawt, l-iskorfna u ċ-ċippullazza, il-qawsalla u l-boll.

Dan il-ħut mhuwiex naturalment aggressiv, u ħafna mit-tingiż relatat jiġi kawża ta’ inċident - speċjalment f’ilma baxx jew waqt is-sajd.

⚠️ Is-sintomi jistgħu jinkludu:
• Uġigħ qawwi
• Nefħa u ħmura
• Dardir jew sturdament

👉 X’għandek tagħmel:
• Oħroġ mill-ilma b’mod sigur
• Aħsel iż-żona
• Applika misħun (temperatura għolja imma tollerabbli) biex tnaqqas l-uġigħ

❗Evita li tmiss ħut li ma tagħrafx u oqgħod attent fejn tkun miexi fl-ilma baxx.
📞 Ċempel 1774 tniggiżt minn xi ħuta velenuża.

🇬🇧 Some fish found in Maltese waters can cause painful stings if stepped on or handled. Common examples include the weeverfish, scorpionfish, rabbitfish, and stingray.

These fish are not aggressive by nature, but stings often happen accidentally — especially when walking in shallow water or handling catches.

⚠️ Symptoms may include:
• Intense pain
• Swelling and redness
• Occasionally nausea or dizziness

👉 What to do:
• Leave the water safely
• Rinse the area
• Apply hot water (as hot as can be tolerated) to help relieve pain

❗Avoid handling unknown fish and be cautious in shallow waters.
📞 Call 1774 if you’ve been stung by a poisonous species.

14/05/2026

🇲🇹 Tingiż tal-bram: X'għandek tagħmel (u x'm'għandekx tagħmel)
Tingiż tal-bram huwa komuni, speċjalment matul ix-xhur tas-sajf f'Malta. Ħafna minnhom ikunu ħfief, iżda l-ewwel għajnuna mhux korretta tista' taggrava s-sitwazzjoni.

👉 X'għandek tagħmel:
• Laħlaħ iż-żona affettwata bl-ilma baħar
• Applika paste tal-baking soda (ħallat partijiet indaqs mal-ilma baħar), jekk disponibbli
• Neħħi bir-reqqa kwalunkwe tentakli viżibbli
• Applika s-sħana (l-ilma sħun jista' jgħin biex inaqqas l-uġigħ)

❌ X'm'għandekx tagħmel:
• TUŻAX ilma ħelu - jista' jaggrava s-sitwazzjoni
• TOGĦROKX jew TĦOKKX iż-żona affetwata
• TAPPLIKAX alkoħol, ħall (sakemm ma jkunx irrakkomandat), jew awrina

⚠️ Fittex għajnuna jekk ikun hemm uġigħ qawwi, ħmura li qed tinfirex, jew sintomi allerġiċi
📞 Ċempel 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 jekk m’intix ċert x’għandek tagħmel.

🇬🇧 🌊 Jellyfish stings: What to do (and what NOT to do)
Jellyfish stings are common, especially during the summer months in Malta. Most are mild, but incorrect first aid can make things worse.

👉 What to do:
• Rinse the area with seawater
• Apply baking soda paste (mix equal parts with seawater), if available
• Carefully remove any visible tentacles
• Apply heat (hot water can help reduce pain)

❌ What NOT to do:
• Do NOT use fresh water - it can worsen the situation
• Do NOT rub or scratch the area
• Do NOT apply alcohol, vinegar (unless advised), or urine

⚠️ Seek help if there is severe pain, spreading redness, or allergic symptoms
📞 Call 𝟭𝟳𝟳𝟰 if unsure what to do.

12/05/2026

Aktar kmieni fuq Radju Malta

Il-Polz taċ-Ċittadin tat-Tlieta, 12 ta' Mejju fuq Radju Malta 93.7 FM.
Se niddiskutu: Hu kkalkulat li f'pajjiżna, it-tobba jaraw mal-2,500 każ ta' persuni li jkunu kkonsmaw xi tip ta' velenu. X'għajnuna teżisti?
Se jkollna mistiedna magħna lil Dr Jeffrey Bonnici u lill-Ispiżjar Mark Lawrence Zammit mill-Malta National Poisons Centre
Is-semmiegħa jistgħu jipparteċipaw billi jċemplu fuq 22913395 jew WhatsApp 99009937.