Poison Safety Tips for Parents with Young Children

Common household substances can poison children, which is why the safety of poisoning is so important.

In fact, 55 US poison centers provide phone consultations for more than 2.1 million human poisonings each year, or 1 poisoning reported every 15 seconds. In addition, children under 6 years of age account for more than a third – 38% – of all poisonings.

You can keep children safe by following simple steps to prevent poisoning. Here are some things you can do in your home.

Be ready

You never know when an emergency might strike, and when it does, knowing you’re prepared will help.

  • Save the poison control number. Families must list the poison control number – (800) 222-1222, US only – on, on or near their phones. Hang it on the refrigerator, save it in your mobile phone contacts or in any place convenient for you. The best script? You will never need it. At worst? You do not waste precious minutes looking for a number.
  • Save the Poison Control web page or app. Place poison.org in your browser favorites or download the app on your mobile phone. Again, you may never need it, but if you do, you’ll appreciate having it always at hand.
  • Know when to call poison control and when to call 911. If your child passes out, stops breathing, or has a seizure, call 911.
  • Update information on CPR and abdominal thrusts. Please update information on basic CPR course. In most cases, this can be a life-saving measure for your children until emergency help arrives.

Anxiety in your home

Install a carbon monoxide alarm in every sleeping area of ​​your home. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, and more than 20,000 Americans go to the emergency room for carbon monoxide poisoning, with more than 4,000 people hospitalized.

Prove your home

Protect your home and all places where your child regularly spends time from poisons. Make sure every room is checked for poisons, drugs, and other hazardous chemicals. Suggested options for protection against poisoning:

  • Ask guests to keep medicines out of the reach of children.
  • Do not store medicines in easily accessible places such as pillboxes, purses, backpacks, and coat pockets.
  • Beware of any legal or illegal drugs that guests may bring into your home.
  • Do not leave poisonous products unattended during use. Many incidents happen when adults are momentarily distracted by the phone or the door.
  • Store cleaning products in their original packaging.
  • Keep handbags out of the reach of children.
  • Store potentially poisonous products in their original packaging. Never place potentially poisonous products in another container.
  • Keep household items and medicines out of the reach of the child.
  • Replace caps securely.
  • Keep household items separate from food and medicines.
  • Use packaging out of the reach of children.

Install child locks

Child safety locks should be installed on cabinet doors and cupboards where you store potentially poisonous items, pills and liquids. This includes kitchens and bathrooms.

What safety devices do you need? Get a consultation and a free security starter kit.

Use medicines safely

  • Ask your child’s pediatrician before giving any herbal medicine or nutritional supplement.
  • Keep a pill reminder, mobile phone reminder, or notepad for the correct time to take.
  • Be sure to read the label before taking the medicine or giving the medicine to others, especially children. Follow the instructions exactly.
  • Store medicines in tall cabinets out of reach.
  • Use the correct dosing syringe or cup – do not use a household spoon.
  • Don’t treat drugs like candy.
  • Do not prepare or give medicine to a child in the dark. You may give the wrong dose or medicine.

Properly Store Dangerous Household Items

Especially dangerous household items should always be kept out of the reach of children. Buy only in small quantities and safely dispose of what you don’t need. These hazardous products include:

  • Antifreeze
  • Sewer cleaners
  • Hydrocarbons (gasoline, oils, paint thinners)
  • Insecticides
  • Toilet cleaners
  • Windscreen Wash Solutions

Store your medicines properly

  • Make sure all medicines, including vitamins and medicines for adults, are kept out of the reach of children.
  • Keep medicines out of reach after each use.

Keep button batteries out of the reach of children

Attach the battery compartment to remote controls, key fobs, cameras, watches, flameless candles and all battery operated products.

Why? Batteries stuck in the esophagus can burn a hole in as little as two hours, causing death or injury that will require feeding tubes, breathing tubes and extensive surgery.

Protect children from the effects of alcohol

  • Do not leave alcoholic beverages within the reach of children. When drinking alcoholic beverages, keep the container out of the reach of children.
  • Store unopened containers of alcohol in a locker out of the reach of children.

Get rid of expired items

Always check your cabinets periodically and get rid of expired pills, dietary supplements, household products, and other dangerous chemicals. Please follow US Food and Drug Administration guidelines for the safe disposal of medications.

For more information on the safety of poisons, visit the Sanford Poison Center.

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