During the 60th anniversary of National Poison Prevention (March 20-26), CPSC urges you to safeguard your family from unintentional poisonings by taking control of potentially harmful household products and medications.
Did you know?
- Nearly nine out of 10 unintentional poisonings occur in the home.
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CPSC Reports:
- On average, 31 children under the age of five die in the U.S. each year of unintentional poisonings from consumer products found in the home.
- Black children suffer a higher rate of unintentional pediatric poisonings, 19.8 percent, compared to their percentage of the U.S. population of 13.4 percent.
- Hispanic children have a slightly higher rate of pediatric poisonings, 19.1 percent, compared to their percentage of the population of 18.5 percent.
- Blood pressure medications, acetaminophen, antidepressants, dietary supplements and bleach are the top five substances unintentionally ingested substances by young children.
Follow our safety tips to prevent unintentional poisonings in the home:
- Keep chemicals, medications and cleaning supplies safely stored in a locked cabinet or box, out of the reach of children.
- Keep medicines and household chemicals in their original, child-resistant containers.
- Do not let children handle laundry detergent packets.
- Store laundry detergent packets in their original containers, out of a child’s sight and reach.
- Coin-size button batteries, used in all sorts of electronics, are dangerous if swallowed. Do not leave products with accessible button batteries within reach of children and use tape to help secure a battery compartment that does not have a screw closure.
- Call Poison Help (800-222-1222) immediately if a child swallows or is exposed to chemicals.
Read more here.
