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If you suspect that your child may have ingested a poison,
call 911 immediately.
Other helpful numbers include: 800-222-1222 (Poison Control Center)
Recent Statistics*
From 2002 through 2004, about 36 children younger than 5 died each
year as a result of ingesting poisonous substances found in and
around the home. In 2005 about 91,000 young children visited
hospital emergency rooms and more than one million calls were placed
to poison control centers as a result of unintentional poisoning.
Young children are curious and use their home as a place to learn
and explore. Exploring for younger children is often done by
mouthing objects which puts them at greater risk of unintentional
poisonings. For young children who are unable to read, a bottle of
orange-scented household cleaner may be mistaken for orange juice;
the medicine in a pill container may look like candy; and baby oil,
which can be deadly if ingested, can resemble a clear drink.
*(Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Types of Poisonings
Medicines and Household Product Poisoning
Each year close to 40 children die from unintentional exposure to
household products and medicines. Among children ages 5 and under,
over one-half of poison exposures are by non-pharmaceutical products
such as cosmetics, cleaning substances, plants, pesticides, art
supplies and alcohol. When medicine is ingested by children ages 4
and under, one-quarter of the medicines belong to someone who does
not live in the household. Grandma’s purse, which may contain easy-to-open pill boxes, are an easy source for children to obtain
medication. And, in an alarming statistic, only one-third of all
caregivers are able to measure the correct dosage of prescribed
medications administered to a child.
Lead Poisoning
It is estimated that almost one million children between the ages of
1 and 5 have elevated blood lead levels high enough to affect
intelligence, growth and development. Children between the ages of 1
and 2 are at the greatest risk from lead poisoning. Ingesting dust
from deteriorating lead-based paint is the most common cause of lead
poisoning among children. Sadly, children are more likely to suffer
elevated blood lead levels if they are low-income, receiving
Medicaid, living in large metropolitan area or living in older
homes.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (CO Poisoning)
Each year, approximately 24 children ages 14 or under die from CO,
an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. In 1999, an estimated
3,400 children were treated in emergency rooms for exposure to CO.
The majority of exposures to CO occur during the colder months and
the most common cause of CO-related poisoning are unvented
supplemental heaters (non-electric space heaters).
Poison Prevention Tips |
- Store all household products and medications locked out
of sight and out of reach of children. Keep items in their
original containers with their original labels.
- When products are in use, never let young children out
of your sight, even if you have to take them with you to
answer the phone or doorbell.
- List the local poison control center and emergency
medical service numbers near every telephone.
- Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the
container securely after each use.
- Keep a bottle of Ipecac syrup on hand to be used ONLY on
the advice of a poison control center or doctor. Ipecac
syrup induces vomiting and may cause more damage if used
without the advice of a poison control center or doctor. You
can obtain a bottle of Ipecac syrup at most stores and
pharmacies.
- Always read labels and follow directions listed on the
bottle. If in doubt, contact your doctor or pharmacist prior
to administering the medication. Use only the dispenser that
came with the medication to measure dosages.
- 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.
- Install CO detectors in your home in every sleeping room
and at least one on each level of your home in a common
area. Follow the manufacturers instructions on installation
and maintenance. Do not install a CO alarm in the furnace
room or generally within 15 feet of a fuel-burning
appliance. Have wood stoves, furnaces, space heaters and
other fuel burning appliances inspected regularly by a
qualified professional.
- If you live in a home built before 1978, have your
children tested for lead exposure by your doctor or local
health department. If it is determined that you have
lead-based paint in your home, hire a professional company
to remove or seal the lead-based paint.
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