CPSC Warns that 9 Out of 10 Unintentional Child Poisonings Occur in the Home
Each year, unintentional poisonings from consumer products commonly found in
the home kill about 30 children and prompt more than 2 million calls to the nation's poison control centers. More than
90% of these calls involve poisonings in the home. On average, each year an estimated 80,000 children are treated in
hospital emergency departments for unintentional poisonings. Children younger than age 5 account for the majority of
the non-fatal poisonings. A recent review conducted by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff found that
70% of poisonings involve children 1 to 2 years of age. Oral prescription drugs, non prescription drugs and
supplements were involved in more than half of the incidents. Read more...