Poison Safety
Children sometimes get into things that they probably shouldn’t. Everyday household items such as cleaning products and personal care products can be harmful to children. You can learn poison safety tips to keep little explorers from finding their way into household items that could be dangerous.
Store all household products out of children’s sight and reach.
The Facts
Poisoning
is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury among children 1 to 19 years old.
374 Children
everyday in the United States are treated in an emergency department as a result of being poisoned.
Safety Tips
Keep the 24/7 Poison Control Hotline number where you can find it fast:
1-800-222-1222.
Specialists at poison control centers provide free, confidential and expert medical advice 24 hours a day.
Store household cleaning products in a secure location.
Young children are often eye-level with items under the kitchen and bathroom sinks, so make sure household cleaning products and personal care products are out of children’s reach and sight – secured cabinets that are up and away from a child’s reach is ideal.
Keep all household cleaning products in their original containers.
Buy products in child–resistant containers whenever possible.
Follow product labels and warnings
Check for ingredients that might be dangerous to children.
Throw away old products.
Check your bathroom, garage and other storage areas in your home for products you no longer need.
Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.
Make sure there is one on every level of your home, especially around sleeping areas. If the CO alarm sounds, leave your home immediately and move to a safe location outside where you can breathe in fresh air before you call for help.
Medicines are the leading cause of child poisoning.
Follow these simple tips to keep your child safe.
Medication Safety Tips
Keep medicine up and away
Keep out of reach and sight of children, even medicine you take every day. Children are naturally curious and easily get into things, like medicine, if they are kept in places they can reach. Put all medicines and vitamins at or above the counter height where kids can’t reach or see them.
Consider places where children get into medicine.
Children often find medicine kept in purses or on counters and nightstands. Place bags and briefcases on high shelves or hang them on hooks, out of children’s reach and sight.
Remember products you might not think about as medicine.
Health products such as vitamins, diaper rash creams and even eye drops can be harmful to children. Store these items out of reach and sight, just as you would over-the-counter and prescription medicines.
Give medicine safely to children.
Use only the dosing device that comes with liquid medicine, not a kitchen spoon. When other caregivers are giving your child medicine, write clear instructions about what, how much and when to give medicines. Using a medicine schedule can help with communication between caregivers.