According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 300 children each day are treated in an emergency room and 2 die as a result of poisoning. We all think of poisoning coming from the chemicals that we use to clean our homes but that is not all that can poison children. Curious children can get their hands on medications that are easily accessible and then experiment with eating or drinking what they find.
The CDC has four main recommendations to prevent poisoning:
Keep medications and cleaning supplies in their original packaging and locked away where children cannot see them or access them.
Put the nationwide poison control center phone number 1-800-222-1222, on or near every telephone in your home and program it into your cell phone.
When giving children medications, be sure to carefully read the labels and only give the amount prescribed.
Dispose of any medications and cleaning supplies you do not need or that have expired dates. The CDC recommends that medicine be disposed by mixing it with coffee grounds or cat litter and making sure this mixture is thrown away.
Be especially careful not to refer to medications as candy. Because pills come in different attractive colors, curious children are more susceptible to wanting to play with them and even eat them.
As parents, we must be diligent to protect our children. Do all you can to safeguard items that are potentially hazardous to them and be prepared in the event poisoning does occur.
To learn more, either visit CDC Poisoning or CDC Prevent Tips.