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Guard Against Household Poisoning

(Date) – According to the nonprofit Home Safety Council, poisonings are the second leading cause of home-injury related death. The majority of American families are not taking steps to reduce their risk, nor are they properly prepared if a poison exposure happens at home.

During Poison Prevention Month in March, the Home Safety Council is teaming up with the (Your Fire Department) to encourage parents to take proper steps to reduce the risk of poisoning exposures, including carefully reading warning labels, safely storing potentially dangerous items and posting the National Poison Control Hotline number (1-800-222-1222) next to every phone at home.

Children under the age of five have the highest rate of nonfatal poison exposures at home compared to any other age group. Common household items, from medications and cleaners to automotive fluids and pesticides, can present serious risks. However, Home Safety Council research shows that more than 80 percent of homes with young children report leaving medicines in unsecured locations and more than 50 percent report leaving dangerous household chemicals in unsecured locations.

“Product labels can help families understand that household cleaners, chemicals and cosmetics could present a danger to young children. If you see the word ‘Caution,’ ‘Warning’ or ‘Danger’ on a label, you should store these items out of children’s reach and ideally in a locked cabinet,” said Home Safety Council president Meri-K Appy. “Recent research also tells us that medications are one of the leading causes of poison exposures for this age group and families should be careful to always keep medicines in a secure location.”

Safe Storage of Medications, Chemicals and Cleaners

• Walk through the most common rooms where potentially harmful products are stored, including the kitchen, bathrooms and garage.
• Make sure all potentially dangerous products (household cleaners, medicines and typical garage items like antifreeze and pesticides) have child resistant closures on them, are locked up, and are stored in high places.
• Always keep original labels on product containers. Labels often give important first-aid information.
• Read product labels carefully. If you see the word "Caution," "Warning" or "Danger" on the label, be very careful.
• Follow the directions on the container and store the product in a locked place when you are finished using it.
• Homes with young children should have child locks installed on cabinets.
• Store food and non-food products separately. This protects families in the event of a leak in the product and reduces any possible confusion between items.
• Make sure all medicines and prescriptions have not expired. If they have expired, they should be flushed down the toilet rather than thrown away in the garbage.
• Lock medicines and medical supplies, including personal syringes, in a medicine cabinet or other locking cabinet and secure the key.
• Do not store medicines inside purses, nightstand drawers or other locations easily accessed by children.

National Poison Control Hotline: 1-800-222-1222

According to a recent survey conducted by the Home Safety Council, more than 70 percent of American parents do not have the National Poison Control Hotline posted next to every phone in their home. Every Poison Control Center in the country can be reached by calling the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ (AAPCC) nationwide hotline, 1-800-222-1222. Post the hotline, along with other emergency numbers, near every phone. Use the hotline to call immediately in the event of a possible poisoning. The hotline also provides local poison control information.

For more information on how to prevent poison dangers at home, visit www.homesafetycouncil.org or www.1-800-222-1222.info.

About Home Safety Council

The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. Through national programs, partnerships and the support of volunteers, HSC educates people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes. The Home Safety Council is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization located in Washington, DC. The Home Safety Council offers families free injury prevention tips on its Web site (www.homesafetycouncil.org).