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National Poison Prevention Week: March 19-25, 2006
With the advent of child-resistant packaging and the educational messages
being promoted during National Poison Prevention Week, we have seen
the number of deaths from accidental poisonings fall dramatically from
450 child deaths in 1962 to only 30 per year today. We would like to
see that decline continue. Every year, 1 million calls are placed to
poison control due to children coming in contact with hazardous household
products and medications. It only takes a moment for a child to come
in contact with poisonous products that have not been locked away.
Collin County would like to remind all adults to check
their households and make sure that dangerous products are securely
stored away from the reach of children. It is also important to become
educated about what to do if a child comes in contact with a poison.
A new national toll-free number for poison control centers is making
that job easier. If you suspect that a child has been poisoned, call
the poison center immediately to get assistance at (800) 222-1222. This
toll-free number will connect you to the experts you need no matter
where you are calling from in the United States.
Child-resistant Packaging
The number of childhood deaths due to accidental poisonings have been
on the decline since the advent of child-resistant packaging laws. It
is important to remember that this packaging is child-resistant, not
child-proof. Even child-resistant packaged medications and household
products need to be stored, and preferably locked, away from the sight
and reach of children.
Child-resistant packaging should be used in all homes,
even those with no children present. Twenty-three percent of oral prescription
drugs and 13% of pesticides ingested by children under the age of 5
belong to someone not living with the child.
Tips for the Prevention of Accidental
Poisonings
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1. Use child-resistant packaging.
2. Lock medicines and household items
out of sight and reach of children. |
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3. Put the Poison Center
phone number on or near every phone in the house.
4. Call the Poison Center immediately
if you think there has been a poisoning. Even if you are not sure
that there has been a poisoning it is important to get expert advice
right away; don't wait to see what happens.
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5. Use ipecac syrup only if the Poison
Center instructs you to induce vomiting.
6. Never let children out of your
site when products are in use. If someone comes to the door or you
need to take a phone call, make sure to re-cap and re-store any
products you are using or take the child with you. |
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7. Keep items in their original containers.
Many children have ingested toxic liquids that have been stored
in drink containers or medications not in their original packaging.
8. Leave the original labels on the
product, and read the label carefully before using. |
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9. Do not put decorative lamps and
candles that containg lamp oil where children can reach them. Lamp
oil can be very toxic if ingested by young children.
10. Always leave the light on when
giving or taking medicine and chec the dosage every time to avoid
an accidental overdose. |
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11. Avoid taking medicine in front
of children.
12. Refer to medicine as "medicine",
not "candy".
13. Regularly clean out your medicine
cabinet and dispose of outdated or unneeded medications. |
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14. Never take more medicine than
the prescribed amount of medicine.
15. Never mix medications and alcohol.
16. Never "borrow" a friend's
medication or take old medications. |
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17. Tell your doctor about other
medications you are taking to avoid adverse interactions between
medications. |
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