Poison control centers across the country get more than 2 million calls a
year about potential exposure to poisons. Almost all of these exposures occur
in the home and 80% of all poisonings are in children between the ages of 1 and
4. Follow these guidelines to prevent poisoning in the home.
- Install safety
locks/childproof latches on all cabinets to restrict access to children.
- Store potential poisons
including detergents, medications , and chemical products (like pesticides and
drain cleaners) out of reach and out of sight of children -- inside the house
as well as in the garage or shed. In addition, it's always best to lock them
up. Never underestimate your child's ability to climb.
- Store potential poisons in
their original containers. Do not transfer them to food containers like milk
jugs, coffee cans, or soda bottles.
- Keep food and potential
poisons separate; store them in different cabinets. Children can mistake the
identity of products that look alike to them.
- Return all products to
storage immediately after use. Keep the products and your children in sight
during use.
- Safely discard -- into a
sealed, outdoor trash receptacle -- all household products and medications that
are old or aren't used regularly.
- Never mix products;
dangerous fumes could result.
- Make sure medications are
in child-resistant containers. Vitamins and supplements also should be out of
reach of children. Be especially alert at grandma's house. Older people with
hand arthritis may get medication bottles that are not childproof. They're also
more likely to leave medicine out in the open.
- Keep indoor plants out of
reach; some may be poisonous.
- Stay away from areas that
have been sprayed recently with pesticides or fertilizer.
Learn the signs of potential poisoning in children, which can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty speaking
- Dizziness
- Unconsciousness
- Foaming or burning of the
mouth
- Cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
If someone has been exposed to poison, call your local Poison Control or the
National Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. You will be
instructed what to do. Try to have this information when you call:
- Victim's condition
- Name of product consumed
and ingredients
- How much of the product
was consumed
- When the product was
consumed
- Your name and phone
number
- Age of victim
- Weight of victim
If the victim has swallowed something extremely toxic and fast-acting, you
may need to administer first aid right away. To speed up this process, one
person should call Poison Control, while another one takes the following
precautions:
- If poison touches the
skin, immediately wash the area with soap and warm water for 10-30 minutes. If
there is blistering, take the victim to the doctor immediately.
- If a toxic substance gets
in the eyes, flush eyes continuously with warm water for 10 minutes.
- If poison is inhaled, take
the victim outside for fresh air.
-
If the victim has
stopped breathing or doesn't have a heartbeat, perform CPR and call 911
immediately.
-
If the victim is
unconscious or breathing is difficult or labored, call 911.
Note: The American Academy of Pediatricians now recommends
against using syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting when children swallow a
poisonous substance.