March is Poison Prevention Month, an ideal time to focus on steps you can take to keep yourself, and those you care about, safe from unintentional poisonings.
Each year, approximately 2.4 million people- more than half under age 6- swallow or come in contact with a poisonous substance, such as prescription medications, cleaning products, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, pesticides, furniture polish, gasoline, kerosene and lamp oil.
While potential poisons are all around us, the vast majority of poisonings occur in the home, with hot spots being the garage, bathroom and kitchen. It’s obviously not possible to prevent all poisonings, but the following steps may help reduce the more than two million poisonings reported each year to U.S. poison control centers:
· Store all potentially harmful products in their original packaging in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children.
· Read and follow directions and caution labels.
· Install safety latches on child-accessible cabinets containing harmful products.
· Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.
· Never mix household or chemical products together.
· Turn on a fan or open a window when using household and chemical products.
· Keep coal, wood and kerosene stoves in safe working order.
· Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
· Keep plants out of a child’s reach.
· Keep art and craft materials out of a child’s reach.
· Keep all medicines in containers with safety caps and out of reach of children.
· Never refer to medicine as “candy” or another appealing name.
· Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage.
· Never share prescription medications.
· Properly dispose of unused or unwanted medications: Clinton County residents can drop off non-controlled pills, tablets and liquids free of charge at the Sparrow Clinton Hospital Pharmacy during regular business hours.
Please call 989-224-8155 for information. Sorry, no inhaler, patches, or sharps. Controlled medications can be dropped off at the Sheriff’s Office in St. Johns during regular business hours. Call 989-224-5184 for more information.
Thankfully, tremendous strides have been made in preventing childhood poisonings, such as child-resistant packaging on medicines and household products, as well as prohibiting lead-based paint in homes. But while the death rate among children from poisoning has been cut in half since the late 1970s, the percentage of all child poisoning deaths due to medications has nearly doubled from 36 percent to 64 percent. Do your part to help stop the trend!
Be aware of potential poisons present in your surroundings, keep the Poison Control Number (800-222-1222) handy and programmed into your phone, and take preventative measures to safeguard yourselves and those you love.