Each year, more than 2 million poison-related injuries and deaths occur in the United States. In the majority of these cases, the victims are children, and more than 90 percent of these cases occur at home due to exposure to (or ingestion of) common household items that can be toxic. This often occurs due to a lack of proper storage, disposal, or concealment of these items, making it easy for children or other vulnerable members of the household to access them.
To keep your family safe from poisoning, the American Association of Poison Control Centers recommends that you follow these best practices:
- Display the Poison Help phone number (1-800-222-1222) in a location that is readily accessible or easily noticeable. Remember: this phone line is meant to help in the event of an accidental exposure, but if you or someone else experiences a medical emergency, such as loss of consciousness, severe illness, seizures, or other symptoms, dial 911 right away.
- Safely store the following substances in cabinets with child-proof locks or in child-resistant containers:
- Medications
- Vitamins
- Tobacco products, especially liquid nicotine
- Laundry and cleaning supplies
- Alcohol
- Pesticides or insect repellants
- Hand sanitizers
- Small batteries
- Read medication labels thoroughly before taking or administering them; if you don’t understand something, call your doctor.
- Avoid calling medication “candy” to get children to take it.
- Avoid taking medications in front of young children.
- Do not use food storage containers to store harmful products such as detergents or pesticides; make sure these products remain in the containers they came in and store them out of the reach of your children.
Make sure to implement a regular routine that reinforces these practices. If you, your child, or someone else in your household experiences a poison-related medical emergency, dial 911 immediately.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.