National Poison Prevention Week Highlights Danger of Poison for Children. Learn How to Protect Your Kids.

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In 1961, President Kennedy designated the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week. This year, National Poison Prevention Week is March 14-20, 2010. There are two themes for this year’s Poison Prevention Week, “Poisonings Span a Lifetime” and “Children Act Fast, So Do Poisons.” Unintentional poisonings are a big problem in this country. Each year the California Poison Control System (CPCS) manages more than 306,000 cases. In 2002, 51% of the poisonings handled by CPCS involved children under the age of 5. Nationally, poisoning is the third most common form of unintentional death.

Simple measures can protect you, your children and your pets from an accident involving poison:

Always keep medicines in their original bottle or containers, and follow doctors’ directions when taking medications or giving medications to others.
Closely monitor the use of medicines prescribed for children and teenagers.
Promptly dispose of unused, unneeded or expired medications (follow guidelines regarding proper disposal: www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov).
Do not refer to medicine as “candy” and avoid taking medications in front of children (as they often copy the behavior of adults).
Purchase medications and household products in childproof containers.
Many people keep medications, including aspirin and similar products, in purses and briefcases – always keep purses and briefcases out of the reach of children (particularly when visiting a home where children live).
Keep household chemicals, including cleaning products, in their original bottles or containers and label with poison stickers. (Mr. Yuk stickers are available by calling the Poison Control Center at 1800-222-1222.)
Store household cleaning products, pesticides, paint, and other household chemicals in childproof cabinets. Always return such products to the secure storage area as soon as you are done using them – never leave such products out after using them.
Never leave household cleaning products or medications open when answering the door or the phone.
Never use food or beverage containers to store any chemical products such as cleaning solutions, paint, beauty products, pesticides, lighter fluid or any other product that should not be ingested. (For example, fatalities, have been reported when lighter fluid intended for outdoor barbecue fires was poured into cups or other beverage containers and subsequently swallowed by children.)
Never store household products in the same location as food, medicine or beverages.
Never mix household products together due to resulting toxic gases.
Wear protective clothing (gloves, long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes) when spraying pesticides and other chemicals.
Do not put decorative lamps and candles that contain lamp oil where children can reach them because lamp oil is very toxic.
Identify poisonous plants in your home and year and place them out of reach of children and pets or remove them. (A simple internet search can tell you if a particular plant is poisonous to humans and/or pets.)
Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by installing a carbon monoxide detector and alarm, and keeping appliances, furnaces, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves in good repair.

Even households without children should follow these basic poison prevention tips because visiting children can easily access poisonous household products and medicines – indeed, accidental poisonings are common when small children visit the homes of their grandparents and other adults. Children under the age of five are constantly exploring and investigating the world around them, and children usually put anything they can see and reach in their mouths. Children act fast, and adults must make sure that household chemicals and medicines are stored away from children AT ALL TIMES.

Fortunately, the national Poison Control Center was established to provide information regarding treatment for various types of poisonings. If you think someone has been poisoned from a medicine or household chemical, immediately call 1-800-222-1222 – this national toll free number works from anyplace in the United States, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. In addition, there are currently 64 regional poison control centers in the United States, including California. The California Poison Control System was formed in 1997, and provides the public and health officials with treatment advice and referral assistance regarding exposure to poisons, toxins and hazardous substances. With the help of the CPCS, 78% of poison exposures are treated at home, resulting in $55 million savings in health care costs for California each year. Additionally, the CPCS has four integrated poison control sites in the state, including UC San Diego Medical Center.

There are several important measures you can take when an ingestion of a suspect substance takes place: 1) remain calm, 2) if medicine has been swallowed do not give the victim anything by mouth until advised to do so by the Poison Control Center, 3) if household chemicals or products were swallowed, follow the first aid instructions on the label, 4) call the Poison Control Center immediately at 1800-222-1222 (if unable to contact them, call 911), 5) be prepared to provide the Poison Control Center information concerning the substance ingested (have the label handy) as well as information concerning the victim (including the victim’s age, weight, existing health conditions or problems, any first aid given to the victim, whether the person vomited), and your location.

For more information regarding National Poison Prevention Week, poison prevention, and the California Poison Control System check out www.poisonprevention.org, www.cdc.gov, and www.calpoison.org.