In theory you can, but in actual fact the chemical brodifacoum (the active ingredient in rodent poisons such as d-CON) very rarely causes human casualties.

For one thing, the poison is a slow-acting anticoagulant, giving accidental victims plenty of time to receive treatment. For another, its lethality is determined by the size and weight of the victim: even a small child is much larger and heavier than a large rat. Also as it is an anticoagulant even a true "lethal dose" is unlikely to be fatal unless a physical injury causing bleeding also happens.

Lastly, brodifacoum can be easily countered by administering large doses of Vitamin K1, which offsets its effects allowing blood clotting to return to normal fairly rapidly. In an absolute worst-case scenario, an emergency blood transfusion may be called for.

So, other than by deliberate poisoning, you should have almost nothing to worry about. (That doesn't mean, however, that you should be careless about placing and handling traps. Always treat poisons, even the mildest ones, with the respect and caution they deserve.)

An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation; that is, it stops blood from clotting. A group of pharmaceuticals called anticoagulants can be used in vivo as a medication for thrombotic disorders. Some chemical compounds are used in medical equipment, such as test tubes, blood transfusion bags, and renal dialysis equipment. Three primary ways to prevent coagulation medically currently exist:

Coumarines (Vitamin K antagonists)

The oral anticoagulants are a class of pharmaceuticals that act by antagonizing the effects of vitamin K. As the K vitamins are required for proper blood clotting, clotting is prevented. Available agents include:

* Warfarin (Coumadin), this is the main agent used in the U.S. and UK. * Acenocoumarol and phenprocoumon, this is used more commonly outside the U.S. and the UK * Brodifacoum, a rat poison, not used medically * Phenindione Heparin and derivative substances

Heparin is a biological substance, usually made from pig intestines. It works by activating antithrombin III, which blocks thrombin from clotting blood.

Direct thrombin inhibitors

Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) are a class of medication that act as anticoagulants by directly inhibiting the enzyme thrombin. Some compounds include:

* Hirudin * Bivalirudin, transient inhibition - is cleaved by thrombin * Lepirudin * Desirudin * Argatroban * Melagatran, and its prodrug ximelagatran * Dabigatran