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Check out suggestions to make your home safer for children and decrease the chance of accidental poisonings.
Every year thousands of children under the age of five require emergency room treatment for poisonous ingestion. Many more are treated at home under the supervision of a poison control center. Most poisonings occur when the substance is being used. Many child poisonings can be prevented if parents & caregivers abide by the following suggestions.
Keep medicines "out of reach, out of sight" in a locked cabinet. When you give medicine to a child, take the medicine to the child, rather than taking the child to the medicine.
Child resistant caps are not child-proof. Never call medicine - even vitamins - "candy" or make a game out of taking medicine.
Keep the poison control center number by your phone.
Many poisonings occur when a household routine has been interrupted: guests, illness, holidays, etc.
Dispose of old or expired medications.
If the phone or doorbell rings - and you have medicine out - take it with you rather than leaving it in sight.
Avoid keeping medications in purses, briefcases, etc.
Keep medicines out of cupboards containing food.
Vitamins are considered medicine and should be treated as such. Taking too many, especially those containing iron, can be deadly for a child.
Never put chemicals in anything other than their original containers. Purchase these products in child-resistant containers.
Cleaning products, fertilizers, pesticides, bleach, car products & gasoline are examples of substances that can cause chemical poisoning if eaten. Remember that chemicals can also cause contact poisoning if spilled on the skin & eye injury if splashed in the eyes.
Store all chemicals out of sight & reach, preferably in a locked cupboard.
Make sure that home or yard plants are safe & non-toxic. Teach children to never eat leaves, berries or mushrooms they find in the yard or park.
