Poison Prevention Requires Diligence

By
Kevin McKeever
March 20, 2009, 5:02 PM ET
1 min read

Mar. 21 -- FRIDAY, March 20 (HealthDay News) -- To keep from being among the millions accidentally exposed to a harmful dose of poison, people need to be diligent -- not just during National Poison Prevention Week but always -- when handling potentially noxious materials, warns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Children younger than 6 are involved in more than half of the 2 million poison exposure incidents reported each year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

As precautions, the EPA recommends that people:

  • Always read the instructions about a product's use and storage first and follow them exactly.
  • Keep harmful products, including cleaners and pesticides, in their original containers to prevent accidental misuse. This will also keep necessary information handy if a problem does occur.
  • Never leave poisonous products unattended when using them.
  • Lock poisons, cleaning supplies and similar products in a storage area -- a cabinet, closet or shed -- that children and pets cannot access.
  • Keep the phone number for the Poison Control Center hot line -- (800) 222-1222 -- handy.

    • More information

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has more on poison prevention at home.

    SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, news release, March 16, 2009