Poisoning, Prevention of

If you think someone has been poisoned, immediately call:

Poison Help 1-800-222-1222

24 hours a day - 7 days a week - free of charge

Your home contains many ordinary household items that can pose a poisoning threat to your child. As a parent, you need to make your home a safe place for your child.

Safety Tips

• Always know where your baby is and what she is doing; do not leave her alone in a room if she is not in her crib or playpen.
• Do not store anything in your baby's crib; only baby and her blankets are allowed.
• Do not allow smoking in your home.
• Put safety latches on cupboard and cabinet doors.
• If you live in an older home, test for lead paint.
• Store medicines and household products (laundry soap, bleach, makeup, paint, household cleaners, etc.) locked up, where children cannot see or reach them. Store such items in their original containers to avoid confusion or mistakes.
• Use child-resistant packaging-remembering that nothing is child-proof!
• Cigarettes and alcohol should be out of reach from your child at all times.
• When taking medicine, read the label and follow the directions on medicines and products when using them.
• Lock medicine up after using it.
• Do not call medicine candy. Children learn by imitation.
• Take medicine where children can't watch.
• Teach children to ask an adult before eating or drinking anything. Poisons can look like food or drink.

Symptoms

Children who have ingested poisonous substances may experience difficulty breathing, throat pain, or burns to the lips and mouth.

What to do

If you suspect that your child has ingested a poison, call the poison center immediately to relay the type of poison ingested and get advice on what to do. If you dial the nationwide poison help line-(800) 222-1222-you'll be connected to your regional poison center. Convulsions, loss of breathing or loss of consciousness require calling 911 immediately. Take the poison with you to the emergency room, whether it's a part of a plant or the chemical's container.