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Poison Prevention: Safety Tips for You and Your Family
Make your home safer
Post the poison control number 1-800-222-1222 on or near every home telephone.
Store all medicines, household products, and personal care products in locked cabinets that are out of reach of small children.
Know the names of the plants in your house and yard. Identify poisonous plants and place them out of reach of children or remove them.
Be aware of any medicines that visitors may bring into your home. Make sure your visitors do not leave their medicines where children can find them easily, for example in an unattended purses or suitcase.
Monitor the air quality in your house. Place carbon monoxide monitors near the bedrooms in your house. (CPSC, 2002)
All combustion (fuel burning) appliances should be professionally installed and inspected annually. (CDC, 1995)
Check your house for lead-based paints. Contact the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD to receive more detailed information. (CDC, NCEH 2002)
Use poisonous products safely:
Always store household products in their original containers. Do not use food containers such as cups or bottles to store chemical products such as cleaning solutions or cosmetic products.
Always read the labels before using a potentially poisonous product. Never leave the product unattended while using it and return the product to the locked cabinet when you are finished.
A light should be turned on when giving or taking medication.
Avoid taking medicine in front of children because they tend to imitate adults.
Do not call medicine candy.
Follow directions on label when taking medicines. Be aware of potential interactions with other medicines or alcohol and never share prescription drugs.
Turn on the fan and open windows when using chemical products.
Wear protective clothing (gloves, long pants, long sleeves, socks, shoes) when spraying pesticides and other chemicals.
Never mix household and chemical products together. A poisonous gas may be created when mixing chemicals.
Do not burn fuels or charcoal or use gasoline-powered engines in confined spaces such as garages, tents, or poorly ventilated rooms (CDC, 1982).
What to do if a poisoning exposure occurs:
Remain calm
If you have a poison emergency and the victim has collapsed or is not breathing call 911. If you have a poison exposure and the victim is alert call 1-800-222-1222. Try to have the following information ready if possible:
- the person’s age and estimated weight
- the container or bottle of the poisonous product, if available
- time that the poison exposure occurred
- your name and phone number
- Follow the instructions from the emergency operator or the poison control center
Poisoning Prevention in Your Community:
National Poison Prevention Week occurs annually during the third week of March, and it provides an excellent opportunity for communities to raise awareness about unintentional poisonings and teach prevention steps to avoid poison exposure. Communities can observe the week by participating in activities that inform their residents about how to keep their children and other vulnerable persons safe from unintentional poisoning. Additional information is available at the website of the National Poison Prevention Week Council.
National Lead Poisoning Week occurs during the fourth week of October. The goal of the week is to raise awareness about lead poisoning and urge people to take precautions to minimize exposure to lead. Additional information is available at the National Lead Information Center website or by calling (800) 424-LEAD.
One way to ensure that the children in your community learn how to keep themselves safe from poisons is to incorporate poison prevention into your community’s school curriculum. Possible lesson plans are available from the American Association of Poison Control Centers website and the National SAFE KIDS Campaign website.
Copyright © Center for Disease Control. Reprinted with permission.
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