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Kids & Family Health

Poisoning Facts and Tips for Prevention

We take for granted that we’re not going to ingest or inhale poison during our day. However, we are surrounded by poisonous items in our homes and workplaces that could be deadly.

That’s why National Poison Prevention Week was created. The third full week of March each year we are reminded of the danger poisons pose for people of all ages. It’s also a time to reinforce the message of keeping poisons well-marked and out of the hands of curious children who may not know better.

Poisoning Facts

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 3 million people swallow or have contact with a poisonous substance. Most of those affected are under the age of six.

In 2019, the most recent year figures are available, the 55 poison control centers in the U.S. provided information for nearly 2.15 million poison exposures, or:
 

  • 6.4 exposures per 1,000 people
  • 37.4 exposures in children under 6 per 1,000 children
  • 1 exposure reported to a poison control center ever 15 seconds

Children under 6 represented 43% of the poison exposures. Second were adults at 42%, then teens at 8%. More than 75% of all exposures were unintentional.

Baby Playing in the Garden

Staying Vigilant

It’s extremely important for parents, guardians, and caregivers to pay attention to what children are doing, given that children under age six are most likely to expose themselves to poisoning. Parents taking children to visit relatives must be especially vigilant, especially if those relatives don’t have young children. They may not be as cautious about some items.

The most dangerous potential poisons are:
 

  • Antifreeze
  • Cleaning products
  • Furniture polish
  • Gasoline
  • Kerosene
  • Lamp oil
  • Liquid nicotine
  • Medicine
  • Pesticides
  • Windshield wiper fluid
Baby Trying to Open the Kitchen Cabinet

Poison Proof Your Home

Protecting yourself and your loved ones from poisoning dangers requires a little bit of determination. Here’s a checklist of 10 things you can do to make things safer from potential poisoning.
 

  • Keep the Poison Help Line number handy or program it into phones — 1-800-222-1222.
  • Keep household and personal care products locked away in their original containers out of sight and reach of children.
  • Don’t put anything in a food or beverage container that isn’t food or a beverage.
  • Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and change the batteries every six months.
  • Know what plants you have in your house and yard and keep the houseplants out of children’s reach.
  • Never call medicine candy.
  • Properly dispose of expired or unused medications.
  • Keep purses or bags that may contain medication, cosmetics, or other poisons out of children’s reach.
  • Don’t take medicine in front of children. They may want to imitate you.
  • Never leave a child unattended, especially around toys, remotes, or greeting cards that use button batteries.

Poison Treatments for Children

Call 911 immediately if the child is unconscious, not breathing, or having seizures.

In other instances, the treatment will depend on what was ingested. You can visit Poison Control online or call the Poison Control number at 1-800-222-1222 for expert advice.
 

  • Swallowed poison. Take it away from the child and have them spit out whatever is left in their mouth. Do not induce vomiting or use syrup of ipecac.
  • Swallowed battery. Go to the emergency room if they swallowed a button battery or have a battery stuck in their nose, ear, or throat.
  • Poison on skin. Remove their clothes and rinse the skin with lukewarm water for 15 minutes.
  • Poison in eyes. Hold the child’s eyelid open and pour a stream of room temperature water into the inner corner of the eye for 15 minutes to flush it.
  • Inhaled poisonous fumes. Get them into fresh air immediately. Start CPR if they have stopped breathing and don’t stop until they can breathe on their own or someone can take over.

You Have Questions, We Have Answers

We’re dedicated at AltaMed to making sure children have a great start on life with age-appropriate immunizations and screenings. We can also answer questions about the things you have in your house and concerns you have about child-proofing your home.

Follow this link to find a pediatrician in your area, or make an appointment by calling (888) 499-9303.

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Poisoning Facts and Tips for Prevention