Press Release

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“Children Act Fast…So Do Poisons!”

More than 1.1 million unintentional poisonings among children ages 5 and under are reported to U.S. poison control centers each year. Children are poisoned by any number of household and personal care products, as well as medicines, vitamins, plants, lead and carbon monoxide. Because children are smaller and have faster metabolic rates than adults, they are at a significantly greater risk of being poisoned.

The observance of National Poison Prevention Week, which is March 16-22, aims to help prevent childhood poisonings by reminding people to check their homes and to know the number for their local poison center.

The Central Ohio Poison Center offers free, confidential poison response information 24 hours a day through certified staff and a toxicologist--a medical doctor specializing in poisons. The Central Ohio Poison Center’s phone number is (800)-222-1222.

“Eighty percent of poisonings can be dealt with in the home,” stated Amy Reinhard, Union County Health Department’s Safe Communities/Safe Kids Coordinator. Calls are free and should be the first step if there has been a poisoning or exposure, even before calling EMS. “Knowing the Poison Control Centers national toll-free number could spare precious minutes that may mean the difference between life and death for a child.”

The Central Ohio Poison Center offers these suggestions to caregivers about poison proofing their home:
• Know which household products are poisonous. Something as common as mouthwash can be poisonous due to its alcohol content if a child swallows a large amount. 'Pretty poisons' are poisons that resemble something appealing to a child such as flavored juice whose color may resemble lamp oil.
• Store all poisons identified (including over the counter medications and alcohol) out of reach of a child, and when possible, out of the sight of a child.
• Keep syrup of ipecac on hand, but only use at the direction of the Poison Center or Physician. Vomiting can often aggravate the poisoning and cause even greater long-term damage.
• Keep the Poison Center’s toll free number, (800)-222-1222, near the phone.

By following these suggestions, the risk of poisoning is greatly reduced and the ability of a caregiver to respond to a poisoning is increased. Parents and care-givers can further protect themselves and their children by following a few simple rules when using poisonous products.
• Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after each use. Although, child-resistant packaging is not child-proof. Studies have found that small children can open child-resistant packages in under a minute when unsupervised.
• When products are in use, never let young children out of your sight, even if you must take them along when answering the phone or doorbell.
• Keep items in original containers.
• Leave the original labels on all products, and read the label before using.
• Always leave the light on when giving or taking medicine. Check the dosage every time.
• Avoid taking medicine in front of children. Refer to medicine as "medicine," not "candy."
• Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and safely dispose of unneeded and outdated medicines.

And, as always, call the Central Ohio Poison Center first if you think someone has been poisoned.

For more information about poison safety or for free stickers, contact Safe Communities/ Safe Kids at the Union County Health Department, (937) 642-2053 or at safecommunities@uchd.net.