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Tips to Prevent Poisonings

Safety Tips for You, Your Family, and Friends

Unless noted, the safety tips below were adapted from the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ poison prevention tips for children and adults.

Drugs and Medicines

Household Chemicals and Carbon Monoxide

 

Keep Young Children Safe from Poisoning

What to do if a poisoning occurs

  1. Remain calm
  2. Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and the victim has collapsed or is not breathing. If the victim is awake and alert, dial 1-800-222-1222. Try to have this information ready:
    • the victim’s age and weight
    • the container or bottle of the poison if available
    • the time of the poison exposure
    • the address where the poisoning occurred 
  3. Stay on the phone and follow the instructions from the emergency operator or poison control center.


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Poisoning Prevention in Your Community

National Poison Prevention Week occurs each year during the third week of March. It is a great time for communities to raise awareness about unintentional poisonings and to share prevention tips. You can find more information and event materials at the National Poison Prevention Week Council website. *

You can talk with local schools about teaching poison prevention. Lesson plans are available from the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ website.* 

Sources of Additional Information

American Association of Poison Control Centers, Inc.    

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

References

American Association of Poison Control Centers. Prevention tips [online]. [cited 2006 September 27]. Available from URL: www.aapcc.org/preventi.htm.

 

Office of National Drug Control Policy. Proper disposal of prescription drugs [online]. [cited 2008 February 20]. Available from URL: http://whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/factsht/proper_disposal.html.

 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. How do kids get prescription drugs? [online]. [cited 2006 October 26]. Available from URL: www.family.samhsa.gov/monitor/howpresdrug.aspx. 

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Page last modified: March 13, 2008