National Poison Prevention Week 2010 March 14-20

green | March 14th, 2010 - 10:57 AM

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National Poison Prevention Week will be held March 14-20, 2010.

Every 13 seconds, U.S. Poison Control Centers receive a call about someone being exposed to a poison. Forty percent of those cases involve a child under three years of age. According to the American Association of Poison Centers, more than 50 percent of over two million exposure incidents each year involve children under six years of age. What’s more, poison center data reported over 70,000 calls made to poison centers with concerns about exposure to common household pesticides. These figures show the need for everyone to lock up pesticides and household chemicals out of children”s reach – preferably in a high cabinet.

What chemical-containing products are in your home?

Household products should be kept in a locked cabinet and out of children’s reach. Common products that could seriously harm a child if ingested include:

  • bath and kitchen disinfectants and sanitizers, including bleach
  • household cleaning or maintenance products, such as drain cleaner, paints, or glues
  • automotive products stored around the home, such as anti-freeze or windshield washer fluid
  • health or beauty care products such as medicines, hair and nail products
  • roach sprays and baits
  • insect repellents
  • rat and other rodent poisons
  • weed killers
  • products used to kill mold or mildew
  • flea and tick shampoos, powders, and dips for pets
  • swimming pool chemicals

What can you do to prevent poisonings?

Poisoning incidents can be prevented if parents and caregivers remember to lock up products that could potentially harm children. Yet, an EPA study found that among households with children under the age of five, nearly half stored pesticides in an unlocked cabinet, within reach of children. Poisoning incidents are preventable..

  • Always store household products in a locked cabinet or garden shed away from both your children’s and pet’s reach.
  • Read the product label first and follow the directions to the letter.
  • Use the safest possible cleaning products. Look for the Design for the Environment (DfE) label on products.
  • Never leave products unattended when you are using them.
  • Re-close products if interrupted during application (e.g., phone call, doorbell, etc.).
  • Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container tightly after use.
  • Never transfer pesticides to other containers; children may associate certain containers with food or drink.
  • Remove children, pets, and toys before applying pesticides (inside or outside the home). Follow label directions to determine when children and pets can re-enter the area that has been treated.
  • Never use illegal pesticides (e.g., Tres Pasitos, unregistered Insecticidal Chalk, or Tempo). These products have not been reviewed by EPA and their use may pose a danger to public health. Always look for an EPA Registration ID number on the label. (Example: EPA Reg. No. 500-123456)
  • Post the Poison Control Centers’ national hotline number, 1-800-222-1222, near your phone. Program the number into your phone’s “address book” or redial feature.

If you are interested in hosting a poison prevention event, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has a National Poison Prevention Week Event Planner available at http://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/resourcesppw.htm.

thanks to United States Environmental Protection Agency: Prevent Poisonings in Your Home

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