National Poison Prevention Week is March 17-23, 2024. Did you know that 90% of poisonings happen at home and are 100% preventable?
To avoid poisonings in your home:
- Keep cleaning products, detergents, and chemicals stored securely up and out of sight of young children. Do not store them under the sink.
- Secure all prescription and over-the-counter medications in a locked cabinet or container and ensure it is out of reach of children.
- Ensure that hygiene products, including skincare, hair, and nail products, are inaccessible to children.
- Sanitize all food preparation surfaces after use to avoid bacterial contamination.
- Wash all produce prior to consumption.
- Store all fertilizers and pesticides in locked and inaccessible areas outside, and always supervise children while playing outside.
Remember that poisonings don’t just occur when children ingest non-food items or medications that they shouldn’t. Exposure through the skin or air to toxic agents can also result in poisoning. If a child in your care was exposed to something toxic or ingested something dangerous for them, do you know what to do?
No matter where you are in the country, you can call 1-800-222-1222 and talk to healthcare professionals who are formally trained in toxicology and are specialists in poison information if you need poison prevention or treatment information. If the injury or exposure is life-threatening, always call 911. We hope that your family never has to experience a poisoning scare. For more information about poison prevention and how you can keep your family safe, visit any of the resources listed below:
Tips and Resources- Palmetto Poison Center
Poison Safety Tips- Safe Kids Worldwide
Poison Prevention- Consumer Product Safety Commision
In The Home Safety Tips- American Association of Poison Centers
