Poison Prevention Requires Diligence

EPA offers tips for storing and using potentially harmful products.

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(SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, news release, March 16, 2009)

FRIDAY, March 20 (HealthDay News) -- To keep from being among the millions accidentally exposed to a harmful dose of poison, people need to be diligent -- not just during National Poison Prevention Week but always -- when handling potentially noxious materials, warns the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Children younger than 6 are involved in more than half of the 2 million poison exposure incidents reported each year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

As precautions, the EPA recommends that people:

Always read the instructions about a product's use and storage first and follow them exactly.
Keep harmful products, including cleaners and pesticides, in their original containers to prevent accidental misuse. This will also keep necessary information handy if a problem does occur.
Never leave poisonous products unattended when using them.
Lock poisons, cleaning supplies and similar products in a storage area -- a cabinet, closet or shed -- that children and pets cannot access.
Keep the phone number for the Poison Control Center hot line -- (800) 222-1222 -- handy.

More information

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has more on poison prevention at home.

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