ACCIDENTAL POISONINGS

Accidental poisoning causes thousands of childhood deaths each year.  If your home isn’t poison proof, your child may be at great risk for injury or death.

To poison proof your home:

*  Install safety latches on all cupboards containing harmful products.

*  Keep poisons in original containers.

*  Keep alcoholic beverages and ashtrays out of reach of children.

*  Remove detergents, bleaches, drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and other toxic substances from under sinks and store in cabinets out of Childrens’ reach.

*  Remove medicine from table tops, counter tops, and window sills, and store out of reach of children.  Flush out-dated medicines down the toilet.

*  Keep insect sprays, fertilizers, weed killers, turpentine, paints, and rust removers in locked storage in the garage.

*  Be aware of poisonous plants such as Azalea, Burning Bush, Daffodil, Crocus, Dumbcane, Dusty Mildew, Hemlock, Holly, Hycharyea, Iris, Lily of the Valley, Mistletoe, Nightshade, Oleander, Peace Lily, Poison Ivy, Potato sprouts, Rhododendron, and Tulips (to mention a few).  These plants don’t belong in the garden where a child is a member of the family.

If your child swallows poison give him or her a full glass of water and then call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-722-5725.  If your child comes in contact with poison on the skin, remove his or her clothes, rinse the skin with water, and call the Poison Control Center.  If your child breathes in poisonous fumes, move him or her to fresh air and call the Poison Control Center.  If your child gets poison in the eye, gently rinse the eye with water for fifteen minutes and call the Poison Control Center.

It is a good idea to have Ipecac syrup at home in case the Poison Control Center instructs you to give this medicine to your child to cause vomiting.  Don’t ever give Ipecac if your child is unconscious, having seizures, or has swallowed an acid, corrosive or hydrocarbon.  Remember prevention of accidental poisoning is always the best treatment.