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Contact: Brian Sansoni, 202-662-2517 (office); via email at bsansoni@cleaning101.com

Keep Kids Safe While Cleaning House
Tips from The Soap and Detergent Association, a Member of the Poison Prevention Week Council; National Poison Prevention Week is March 21-27, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 11, 2004 - In support of National Poison Prevention Week, March 21-27, The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA, www.cleaning101.com) offers useful tips and resources on how to avoid potentially dangerous poisonings.

The SDA, a longtime member of the Poison Prevention Week Council, offers online and printed guides such as Clean and Safe (available at www.cleaning101.com/health), which offer parents, educators, childcare and healthcare professionals tips and ideas for safe use and storage of cleaning products. As a member of this public awareness campaign, SDA has helped to raise awareness of the dangers of unintentional poisonings and encourage preventative measures against accidental exposure.

"Consumers buy and use millions of cleaning products safely each day," said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education. "They can protect themselves and their family members by remembering these 'best bet barriers' to unintentional poisonings."

The SDA recommends the following tactics to keep children safe and minimize accidental exposure to cleaning products:

Use Safely

  • Schedule routine cleaning with children in mind. Choose times when they are not home or during their naptime. If you must clean when children are present, carefully monitor cleaning product containers.
  • Read and follow product label directions and don't mix products, which can result in harmful gases.
  • Never remove product labels from cleaning product containers. They contain valuable precautions, first-aid instructions, and ingredients that are vital should an accident occur.
  • Remove only the amount of cleaning product needed. Properly and promptly store the product so nothing is left out to tempt curious toddlers or pets.

Store Safely

  • Lock products up: this location should be away from children, pets, or food.
  • Store products in their original containers. If you put cleaning products in food or beverage containers, someone might eat or drink them by mistake.
  • Close container caps securely.

Dispose Safely

  • Carefully dispose of empty cleaning containers. To protect children, pets, and garbage handlers, first replace caps, then discard in a sealed recycling bin or garbage container.

In an Emergency

  • If you think someone has been poisoned from a household chemical, call 1-800-222-1222 to reach your regional Poison Control Center. This national toll-free number is available everywhere in the U.S. 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.

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For more educational resources on safe cleaning practices, visit www.cleaning101.com./health

Some Facts About Cleaning Product Disposal: www.cleaning101.com/environment/facts/

Poison Prevention Week Council: www.poisonprevention.org

The Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.com) is the non-profit trade association representing over 100 manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients; finished packaging; and oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90% of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.