Poisoning

Proper storage of everyday products can avoid a serious poison injury to a child

Resources

http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_poison_w001.aspx

http://www.mychildsafety.net/child-poison-safety.html

http://www.safety4kids.com/safety/poison_safety.html

http://www.nsc.org/resources/issues/poison.aspx

http://www.usa.safekids.org/poison/

Articles

Center says children often victims of accidental poisoning
By Jamie Durant
Morning News Reporter
Published: July 20, 2008
More than 50 percent of calls made to the Palmetto Poison Center at the University of South Carolina in 2007 were for children younger than 6, according to the center’s annual report. The report, which was released earlier this month, also showed people older than 21 made up 32 percent of calls received in 2007 and children between 6 and 21 accounted for the remaining 13 percent.

Study: unsafe gun, poison chemical storage in homes can turn holiday visits to grandparents, other relatives, friends deadly

CHAPEL HILL — Many U.S. residents who have younger children at home are negligent in storing guns and poisonous materials, but those whose homes children only visit are significantly worse, according to a new study. The study, conducted by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Injury Prevention Research Center investigators, showed that in 55 percent of homes where young children lived, household chemicals were stored in places accessible to those children. Such compounds were not secured in 74 percent of homes where children were only visitors, said Dr. Tamera Coyne-Beasley, associate professor of pediatrics and medicine at the UNC School of Medicine.

Tips for Parents

1. Ensure all hazardous substances are sealed tightly and kept out of reach of children
2. Keep substances locked away and in a place children are unaware of
3. Don’t leave medicines, beauty products or household cleaners out or unattended
4. Invest in large medicine cabinets for storage in bathrooms and keep a lock on it
5. Choose child proof containers for medicines or cleaners
6. Read all labels when taking medicines, giving medicines to children, or using standard household products
For more tips see: http://www.safety4kids.com/safety/poison_safety.html