40th Observance of National Poison Prevention Week
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2001
Release # 01-105
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
40th Observance of National Poison Prevention Week Poisonings kill about 30 children annually, cause 1 million calls to poison centers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Each year, unintentional poisonings from medicines
and household chemicals kill about 30 children and prompt more than 1
million calls to the nation's poison control centers. The 40th
observance of National Poison Prevention Week, which is March 18-24,
aims to help prevent those childhood poisonings by reminding people to
check their homes now.
The three most important safety messages to prevent poisonings
are: (1) Use child-resistant packaging because it saves lives; (2)
Keep medicines and household chemicals locked up out of reach and out of
sight of young children because some children can open child-resistant
packaging; and (3) Keep the poison control center number next to your
telephone and call immediately if a poisoning occurs.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires child-
resistant packaging for 28 categories of medicines and household
chemicals and is considering such packaging for a group of chemicals
known as hydrocarbons. "Child resistant-packaging saves lives," said
CPSC Executive Director Pamela Gilbert. "For aspirin and oral
prescription medicine, special packaging has saved the lives of over 900
children since the early 1970s."
National Poison Prevention Week is organized each year by the
Poison Prevention Week Council, a coalition of national organizations
working to prevent poisonings. According to William W. Bradley,
Chairman of the Poison Prevention Week Council, "For 40 years, National
Poison Prevention Week has emphasized the responsibility of parents,
grandparents, and other caregivers in preventing poisonings. Children
are curious, and they act fast. So do poisons. Keep chemicals and
medicines locked up out of reach and out of sight. Poisonings can, and
must, be prevented."
Child-resistant packaging is not child-proof. If a young child
swallows a medicine or chemical, parents must call the poison control
center immediately. Dr. Alan Woolf, President of the American
Association of Poison Control Centers, said, "By treating poisoning in
the home instead of the emergency room, poison centers save the United
States $350 million annually."
The "Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act" will
provide a stable source of federal funds for poison centers and make
them more accessible to the entire nation. The new funding will support
poison center programs throughout the United States.
At a news conference today, 3-year-old Stevie Carrico and his
parents, Debbie and Steve Carrico, told the story of his poisoning.
Stevie swallowed some cough and cold medicine. His parents called the
poison center which recommended that they give him ipecac syrup to make
him vomit. He is fine today.
Here are the basic poison prevention tips that every person should
check during National Poison Prevention Week:
Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container
securely after each use.
Keep all chemicals and medicines locked up and out of sight.
Call the poison center immediately in case of poisoning. Keep on
hand a bottle of ipecac syrup but use it only if the poison center
instructs you to induce vomiting.
When products are in use, never let young children out of your sight,
even if you must take them along when answering the phone or doorbell.
Keep items in original containers.
Leave the original labels on all products, and read the label before
using.
Do not put decorative lamps and candles that contain lamp oil where
children can reach them. Lamp oil can be very toxic if ingested by
young children.
Always leave the light on when giving or taking medicine. Check the
dosage every time.
Avoid taking medicine in front of children. Refer to medicine as
"medicine," not "candy."
Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and safely dispose of
unneeded and outdated medicines.
To get a free packet of poison prevention publications, write to "Poison Prevention Packet," CPSC, Washington, DC 20207.