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How to help ensure the safety of children and adults in your home
Although no one is safe from the risk of accidental poisoning, the youngest members
of your household are at greatest risk for accidental poisoning within the home.
In one year, 50.9% of all exposure calls managed by the nation's 61 Poison
Control Centers involved children under age six.
Sadly, most of the calls that involved young children could have been easily
avoided. Research done by the Home Safety Council, a national nonprofit organization
solely dedicated to preventing home-related injuries, reveals that in more than
80% of homes with young children, caregivers admit leaving medicines in unsecured
locations and more than 50% report leaving household chemicals in places where
they are accessible to children.
National Poison Prevention Week, March 16–22, is sponsored by the Poison
Prevention Week Council. The Council consists of more than 37 national organizations,
including The Soap and Detergent Association, who have an interest in and commitment
to programs aimed at preventing unintentional poisonings. For the past 45 years,
National Poison Prevention Week has focused on preventing poisonings among children
under five years of age–and this year is no exception. It's the perfect
time to take stock of any hazardous conditions in the home and correct the problems.
Here are some suggestions, courtesy of Nancy Bock, Vice President of Education
at The Soap and Detergent Association and current Chair of the National Poison
Prevention Week Council.
- Install child-safety locks on cabinets that house cleaning supplies, medicines, cosmetics, chemicals and other poisons. Never assume a cabinet is too high for a curious, climbing toddler.
- Keep all household products in their original packages. Packaging
includes useful first-aid information in the event of accidental exposure or
ingestion. If you purchase these products in bulk quantities, buy a smaller
size of the same product and use this container for refills.
- Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely
after each use. Remember, however, that this type of packaging is "child-resistant," not "child-proof." It's
not a substitute for keeping products securely out of reach of young children.
- Read and follow the product-label directions. Pay particular attention
to products whose labels include the words "Caution," "Warning," "Danger" or "Poison."
- Take out only the amount of cleaning product needed for the job at
hand. Store the rest away securely so there's no chance that small explorers
will get their hands on it.
- Don't mix household cleaning products. This could release harmful
vapors or cause other chemical reactions that can have dangerous results.
- Don't leave cleaning buckets unattended. Even those with a
small amount of liquid pose a danger to "top-heavy" toddlers. If
the child falls into a bucket, it may not tip over and he or she could drown.
- Schedule cleaning during "down times" such as nap time
or when children are in school or on a play date.
- Immediately clean up any spillage.Quickly and safely dispose of
rags, paper towels, etc. that you have used for cleanup.
- Avoid distractions or interruptions when children are present during
cleaning. If you answer the door, take the child with you. If the phone rings,
let the answering machine do its job.
- Know where to call for help. Post the Poison Control Center phone
number (1-800-222-1222), along with other emergency numbers, by every land
phone in your home and enter them into your cell phone's address book.
In honor of this awareness week, the Poison Prevention Week Council conducts an
annual nationwide poster contest to engage the community in helping to ensure the
safety of children and adults. Click here to view the 2007 winning posters.
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Cleaning Matters is compiled by The Soap and Detergent
Association and is not copyrighted. Such information is offered solely
to aid the reader. The Soap and Detergent Association and its member
companies do not make any guarantees or warranties, expressed or
implied, with respect to the information contained in Cleaning Matters and assume no responsibility for the use of this information.
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