New National Emergency Hotline Assessed; CPSC Joins in Launching
Poison Prevention Week to Stop 30 Deaths Each Year
Press Release #02-118
Transcript
(Woman sitting a computer workstation answering the phone)
More than one million calls are placed each year to poison control centers across the country due to unintentional child poisoning in the home.
(Person putting chemicals away in a cabinet)
The good news: poisoning can be prevented if proper precautions are taken.
(Acting Chairman Moore speaking)
"We urge all parents, grandparents, and caregivers to observe National Poison Prevention Week by checking homes and taking steps to help keep children from being poisoned."
(Person walks into room and places a bottle of medication on a table and walks away. A child then runs into the room and picks up the bottle)
Child-resistant packaging is only the first step because children act fast, even parents who've taken the best precautions can be caught off guard.
(View of man speaking)
"There is no such thing as child-proof packaging. So you shouldn't think of packaging as your primary line of defense. Rather, you should think of packaging, even child-resistant packaging, as your last line of defense."
(Views of person locking away chemicals in a cabinet, person closing the lid on child-resistant bottle of medication and two children attempting to open locked cabinet where chemicals were stored)
Locking up chemicals and medications, using child resistant packaging - those precautions save children's lives. But should you have to make the call, poison control centers nationwide are standing by.
(View of man speaking)
"From anywhere in the country you can call 1-800-222-1222 and automatically be connected to the closest poison center."
(Various views of a family together) The poison prevention message is not a new one, but is an important one which needs to be addressed each year for new parents, grandparents and caregivers who haven't heard it before.
End.