Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center

Preventing Poisoning

IN TODDLERS' HEALTH

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (www.aapcc.org), in 2000, 1,142,796 children under the age of 6 were poisoned, most of them accidentally. Here are some tips for preventing poisonings from happening in your home.
  • Never call any medicine “candy”.
  • Buy medicine and household products in child-resistant packages and keep dangerous products out of your child’s sight and reach (and preferably locked up). This includes vitamins and mineral supplements that contain iron.
  • Check your prescriptions before leaving the pharmacy to make sure they’re in child-resistant packaging.
  • Throw out all out-of-date prescriptions. As medicines get older, the chemicals inside them can change, turning what was once a good medicine into a dangerous poison.
  • Be extremely careful with charcoal lighter, paint thinner and remover, antifreeze, and turpentine, which can be potentially fatal if swallowed.
  • Always keep potentially harmful products in their original containers. In case of an emergency, the label on the container will have information about what to do if the product is swallowed, or at the very least, a list of ingredients that will help Poison Control direct you as to what you should do.
  • Never store poisons in drinking glasses or pop bottles. Your child may think this is something to drink.
  • Don’t leave alcoholic beverages sitting around.
  • Store poisonous products away from food so your child doesn’t get the two mixed up and accidentally swallow a poison.
  • Keep ipecac, which causes vomiting, around for emergencies.
  • Post the number for the Poison Control Center hotline (1-800-222-1222) near your phone.

In an Emergency
Despite your efforts to keep your home safe, your curious toddler has managed to find and swallow a poisonous item. What do you do? 1. Remain calm. If your child sees that you’re upset, he or she may not feel safe telling you what happened. 2. Call Poison Control. Poison Control Centers have volumes of information about which remedy is best for particular toxic agents and will be able to direct you as to how you should respond. 3. Know the Signs of Poisoning. These include difficulty breathing or speaking, dizziness, unconsciousness, foaming or burning of the mouth, cramps, nausea, and vomiting. If your child is in immediate danger call 911 and begin administering first aid.
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For more information, please visit the Claxton-Hepburn website.