POISON EMERGENCY!
March 14-20 is National Poison Prevention Week.
Every 13 seconds, a US poison control center receives a call about an unintentional poisoning. The majority of incidents involve children yonger than six years of age.Would YOU know what to do if faced with a child poisoning?
If you think someone has been poisoned from a medicine or household chemical, call 1-800-222-1222 for your Poison Control Center.
These centers are familiar with the toxicity (how poisonous it is) of most substances found in the home or know how to find this information. Here is a checklist of home safety tips for parents, grandparents or daycare providers:
- Install child-safety locks on cabinets that house cleaning supplies, medicines, cosmetics, chemicals and other poisons. Never assume a cabinet is too high for a curious, climbing toddler!
- Keep all household products in their original packages. Packaging includes useful first-aid information in the event of accidental exposure or ingestion.
- Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after each use. Remember, however, that this type of packaging is "child-resistant", not "child-proof".
- Read and follow the product-label directions. Pay particular attention to products whose labels include the words "Caution", "Warning", "Danger", or "Poison".
- Take out only the amount of cleaning product needed for the job at hand. Store the rest away secruely so there's no chance that small explorers will get their hands on it.
- Don't mix household cleaning products. This could release harmful vapors or cause other chemical reactions that can have dangerous results.
- Don't leave cleaning buckets unattended. Even those with a small amount of liquid pose a danger to "top-heavy" toddlers. If the child falls into a bucket, it may not tip over and he or she could drown. The product could also spill onto a child's sensitive skin.
- Schedule cleaning during "down times" such as nap time or when children are in school.
- Immediately clean up any spillage. Quickly and safely dispose of rags, paper towels, etc., that you have used for cleanup.
- Avoid distractions or interruptions when children are present during cleaning. If you answer the door, take the child with you. If the phone rings, let the answering machine do its job.
- Know where to call for help. Post the Poison Control Center phone number, 1-800-222-1222, along with other emergency numbers.