March 18 through 24, 2007, marks National Poison Prevention Week and it comes with some good news.
In the 1970s there were more than 200 child deaths a year attributed to the accidental ingestion of any manner of dangerous household chemicals, personal care products, over-the-counter medications, and cleaning agents. Due to the efforts of multiple agencies, the occurrence of these unfortunate accidents has been reduced to about 36 a year.
In 2005 about 91,000 young children visited hospital emergency rooms do to unintentional poisoning, and poison control call centers fielded more than 1 million calls. By maintaining constant availability and aggressive public awareness, organizations such as the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission seek to further reduce accidental poison fatalities.
To prevent these incidents, CPSC recommends the following safety steps:
- Keep all household chemicals and medicines locked up, out of sight, and out of reach.
- Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after each use. Some products also come in child-resistant blister cards, which avoid the need to resecure.
- Call 800-222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning.
- When products are in use, never let young children out of your sight, even if you must take them along when answering the phone or doorbell.
- Keep items in original containers.
- Leave the original labels on all products, and read the label before using to understand the correct use and dosage.
- Do not put decorative lamps and candles that contain lamp oil where children can reach them. Lamp oil can be very toxic if ingested by young children.
- Always turn the light on when giving or taking medicine. Check the dosage every time.
- Avoid taking medicine in front of children. Refer to medicine as "medicine," not "candy."
- Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and safely dispose of unneeded and outdated medicines.
As an added note to this article, there is once again an e-mail circulating that alleges a danger to household animals of poisoning by cleaning agents used in Procter & Gamble's (NYSE:PG) Swiffer WetJet. I have found no truth to that claim. I researched the Consumer Products Safety Commission, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and several poison control center information pages. All of the information I have found indicates that when used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, the Swiffer WetJet poses no undue danger to humans or animals.
Have a safe and productive week everyone, and please do keep a close eye on those kids!
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