These Are The Most Common Toxic Plants In Southern Nevada

One of the greatest things about living in Southern Nevada is the ability to enjoy the outdoors year-round. I love it. If you follow me on social media, you probably have noticed I'm outdoors a lot! I go on daily walks with my Boston Terrier, Steve. I also go on lots of weekend hikes with my family, which includes my 7-year-old son, Beckham. We love being outside, but when you have small kids and pets, it's good to know about the things that can harm them. So, today, I did some research about the most common toxic plants in Southern Nevada. My findings shocked me, because I see a lot of the things on this list on my daily walks. There's a good chance you do as well... You might even have some of these items in your own front or backyard.

Most people don't realize that the most toxic plants they encounter are growing in their own backyard. A lot of fruits and vegetables are part of the nightshade family, which is incredibly toxic if ingested improperly.

Improperly is the keyword... because when fruits and vegetables ripen, their toxic compounds lower to a level that's safe to consume. Mostly.

Leaves and vines from the following should still never be eaten because they're still toxic: blueberries, tomatillos, potatoes, hot peppers, and eggplants are all members of the nightshade family.

Some more common toxic plants in Southern Nevada are flowers. Namely the Oleander and the Lantana. You see both of these flowers all over the city, because they're gorgeous to look at, but they also do really well in our dry climate.  It should be noted that all parts of the Oleander plant are incredibly poisonous if consumed. The plant contains toxic compounds that can affect the heart and even the nervous system.

Another toxic plant that people have around because they're nice to look at is the Castor Bean Plant. But don't let its beauty deceive you, this plant is known as the femme fatale of the plant world. While, it's not illegal to grow the plant in your garden, there are strict laws about extracting the deadly ricin from its beans. Ricin, an incredibly deadly poison, makes the castor bean plant the most dangerous plant in the world. Even consuming one bean can kill a full sized adult.

And finally, the Sago Palm Tree wraps up our list. Again, this is a decorative plant that you see all over the Vegas Valley. All parts of this tree are poisonous if consumed, however it's the seeds that attract most small animals. So if you're on a walk with your pup, be on the lookout for seeds on the sidewalk.

For Nevada Poison Control, call 800-222-1222 or click HERE

Nobody likes dealing with severe weather. But, it's part of life. Depending on where you live in the United States, you might come up against hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, blizzards and more. I've certainly had my fair share of severe weather events. Probably my most vivid memory was being in an ice storm, which knocked power out for about a week where I lived, including during Christmas. It was freezing cold, so my family and I had to go to a hotel that was out of town. Needless to say, our Christmas plans were totally different that year. So, what are some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life?

Before we get to the main tips, let's get through some basics. Stay informed when a severe weather event is approaching. It's simple but important. You don't want to be caught off guard when bad weather strikes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service both have information that they provide leading up to and during a severe weather event. So, make sure to get the latest information in the case of any weather emergency. Local meteorologists also have good information, but the main alerts come from the National Weather Service.

Another mistake some people make is not taking "watches" seriously. For example, you might see that there's a severe thunderstorm watch in your area and think, oh, it's just a watch, I can go out for a walk. Don't do it. "A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain," the National Weather Service explains. We'll get more into the specifics of a watch, warning and advisory later in this story.

Let's get into some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life.

A weather advisory, watch and warning all need to be taken seriously. So, what do they mean? According to the National Weather Service, "a warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely." A watch is where "the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain." Finally, an advisory means, "hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely."

During a severe thunderstorm, and any severe weather event, the best thing to do is stay inside and sheltered. "The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes," the National Weather Service says. Also, you don't want to risk getting hit by lightning, like in the image below.

During a tornado, get underground if possible. If you don't have a basement, get to the lowest floor possible. Also, during a tornado, watch for flying and falling debris. The National Weather Service advises to "use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc. to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris."

Be prepared. Have a good emergency kit, both in your house and your car. For the car, "An emergency kit should include booster cables, shovel, tow rope, sand or cat litter, and a flashlight with extra batteries," the National Weather Service says. "Do not forget a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and blankets or sleeping bags."

This one my mom and dad always tell me to do. And, they're right. "Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel line," the National Weather Service advises.

Heat can make for a severe weather event, too. So, dress appropriately when it gets really hot. "Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures," the National Weather Service says. They add to guzzle lots of "water or non-alcoholic fluids."

Sometimes, you just have to leave ahead of the storm to be safe. In the case of a hurricane, the National Weather Service says to "leave immediately if ordered." They also say that if you are allowed to stay, to "take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can," and "stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors."

Weather isn't just about thunderstorms and tornados. Air quality is a big part of weather events these days, too. Be on the lookout for air quality alerts in your area. If you have respiratory issues, you should wear a mask when out and about in bad air quality. You should also say inside if the air quality is especially bad.

Even on a perfect weather day, if you're at the beach, there are risks. The NOAA states, "To stay safe, you need to stay aware of the weather, the ocean, tide, and what is going on around you." They add, "Storms, such as thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes far out at sea can create dangerous waves and currents at the beach, even on a sunny day!"