CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- More West Virginians are winding up in the emergency room for some weird, warm-weather mishaps: suspected poisoning by tiki torches and glow toys.

The West Virginia Poison Center reports that so far this year four people have been treated for drinking the refillable liquid that fuels the tropical-themed torches, popular as patio décor and a favorite for backyard parties.

The yellowish oil frequently is left sitting out and mistaken for a beverage, said Dr. Elizabeth Scharman, director of the poison center.

"People were at a picnic and thought it was apple juice and swallowed it," Scharman said of one call the center received this year.

At least one child also swallowed the liquid after a torch had been set up lower to the ground, giving the child more access to it, Scharman said.

No one in the state has died or sustained serious injuries after ingesting the tiki torch fuel, but tragedy has struck elsewhere.

The Chicago Sun Times reported one 84-year-old woman died after swallowing the liquid, which can cause aspiration pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs and bronchial tubes related to breathing a foreign substance.

"Nationwide we've had a lot of hospitalizations and severe injuries," Scharman said. "We would hate to have that happen here."

Also, last year, more than 193 people in the state -- many of them children -- reported ingesting glow products, the liquid used to light children's toys and the necklaces and bracelets that are sold at many fairs, festivals and fireworks displays.

That number rose from 143 glow-related calls in 2006, according to data from the poison center's annual reports.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- More West Virginians are winding up in the emergency room for some weird, warm-weather mishaps: suspected poisoning by tiki torches and glow toys.

The West Virginia Poison Center reports that so far this year four people have been treated for drinking the refillable liquid that fuels the tropical-themed torches, popular as patio décor and a favorite for backyard parties.

The yellowish oil frequently is left sitting out and mistaken for a beverage, said Dr. Elizabeth Scharman, director of the poison center.

"People were at a picnic and thought it was apple juice and swallowed it," Scharman said of one call the center received this year.

At least one child also swallowed the liquid after a torch had been set up lower to the ground, giving the child more access to it, Scharman said.

No one in the state has died or sustained serious injuries after ingesting the tiki torch fuel, but tragedy has struck elsewhere.

The Chicago Sun Times reported one 84-year-old woman died after swallowing the liquid, which can cause aspiration pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs and bronchial tubes related to breathing a foreign substance.

"Nationwide we've had a lot of hospitalizations and severe injuries," Scharman said. "We would hate to have that happen here."

Also, last year, more than 193 people in the state -- many of them children -- reported ingesting glow products, the liquid used to light children's toys and the necklaces and bracelets that are sold at many fairs, festivals and fireworks displays.

That number rose from 143 glow-related calls in 2006, according to data from the poison center's annual reports.

Such incidents also are on the rise nationwide, possibly beside of the products' popularity and because they are more readily available now, Scharman said.

"They used to be novelty items," she said. "Now you can go into any store around the holidays and buy them."

Many makers of glow products say the materials are non-toxic. Typically, they are made from a combination of hydrogen peroxide, a dye and various chemicals that cause the glow.

The West Virginia Poison Center receives most of its calls about glow products from worried parents whose toddlers have chewed through the plastic and ingested the liquid inside.

Even some pet owners have called the poison center after animals turned the glow sticks or jewelry into chew toys.

The majority of those calls come in during holiday celebrations, such as the Fourth of July and Halloween, Scharman said.

Because there isn't much liquid in the glow products, they usually will only cause irritation or burning in the mouth, Scharman said.

Scharman said most of the time she recommends just rinsing the mouth.

To prevent the potentially more dangerous incidents involving tiki torches, Scharman advises against cutting or shortening the torches to keep them out of a child's reach and against leaving the fuel out in the open.

Anyone with a poison concern should call the West Virginia Poison Center at  (800) 222-1222. The center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has trained nurses and physicians on hand to help.