Students from four U.S. Virgin Islands schools were recognized as winners in the regional poster contest for National Poison Prevention Week, sponsored by the Florida/USVI Poison Information Center at UF Health Jacksonville.

According to a news release from the center, 25 artists from the territory entered the contest and were recognized in April during the center’s annual poisoning awareness visit to the islands. The visit was in conjunction with the Department of Health’s celebration of National Public Health Week.

Winners in the contest include Aaliyah Francis, first place in the kindergarten through second grade level, and Tatyanna Morton, third place in the third through fifth grade level. Both girls are students at Wesleyan Academy and are in the second and third grades respectively.

Ace Genesis B. Perdon and Amiri Richardson took honorable mention for the sixth through eighth grade level. Both Perdon and Richardson are sixth grade students at Lockhart Elementary School.

Other poster contest participants were:
– Joseph A. Gomez Elementary School – Jeremiah Alexander, Alanique Bailey, Laurenique Isaac, Shereese John-Pierre, Anubeah Joseph, Kalifa Smith, DeJani Thomas and Sherna Williams;
– Lockhart Elementary – Breanna Antoine, Darius Luke, and Lesley Reinsoso;
– Wesleyan Academy – Adelle Cuffy, Beranne Cuffy, Dickens Francis, Isaiah Francis, and Nesa McCurdy;
– and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School – Linique Dagou, Candace LaPlace, Aaliyah Lawson, Michele Olive and Chloe Wade.

The regional winning posters, as well as the honorable mention posters, were forwarded to the National Poison Prevention Week Council in Washington, D.C., to compete against entries from the other poison centers for the 2015 poster to represent next year’s National Poison Prevention Week.

National Poison Prevention Week is celebrated annually during the third week of March to highlight the importance of poison proofing our homes and communities.

According to the news release, anyone who suspects a poisoning has occurred and has questions concerning poisonings can immediately call the Poison Center Help Line toll free, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-222-1222 and a health care professional will assist.

"In a poisoning emergency, don’t waste time searching the Internet; call the Poison Center for the right answer the first time," the Poison Control Center said.