Children and Household Chemicals are Focus of National Poison Prevention Week, March 21-27

PHOENIX (March 21, 2004) – Each year in Maricopa County, more than 11,000 children under the age of 3 are poisoned. Most child poisonings occur in the home and are not serious, although there are instances when a poisoning is very serious and can result in medical problems.

Educating families about the basics of poison prevention and what to do if a poisoning does take place can help save a child's life.

The Banner Poison Control Center, located at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, and the Maricopa County Dept. of Public Health encourage Arizonans to become educated about harmful products and their effects during National Poison Prevention Week, March 21-27. Parents are urged to store poisonous products out of their children's reach and to be aware of a young child's curiosity with the unknown. The goal of National Poison Prevention Week is to help reduce the annual toll of poisoning to children less than 5 years old.

"'Children Act Fast … So Do Poisons' is the theme of National Poison week and that is so appropriate," said Ann-Marie Krueger, education and community relations coordinator for the poison center. "It can take an instant for a poisoning to occur when children are able to reach household chemicals and medicines, especially when toddlers put just about everything in their mouths.

"Many incidents happen when adults are using a product but become distracted for a few moments, maybe by a phone or a door bell. Adults must make sure that all household chemicals and medicines are stored away from children at all times," Krueger added.

Common substances such as drain cleaner, pool acids and lamp oil can cause death with just one swallow. Adult medications are also a leading cause of childhood poisonings.

"Child poisonings are all too frequent for the Paramedics, EMTs and other first responders of Maricopa County's public safety agencies," said Julie Frasco, communications and community preparedness manager, Maricopa County Dept. of Public Health.

"Resources like the Banner Poison Control Center can help save lives after a poisoning has occurred, but the best way to prevent a child poisoning from occurring is to make certain that chemicals and medications are kept away from children."

National Poison Prevention Week is alerting a new generation of parents that each year there are approximately 30 deaths and nearly one million incidents where children less than 5 years of age are exposed to potential poisons.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Association of Poison Control Centers, and the Poison Prevention Week Council have developed basic poison prevention tips that every person should check during National Poison Prevention Week:

• Keep all chemicals and medicines locked up and out of sight.
• Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after each use or choosing child-resistant blister cards, which do not need to be re-secured.
• 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.
• Call (800) 222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning.

The Banner Poison Control Center Hotline answered a record number of calls in 2003 and is anticipating another busy year with the population expansion. Nurses and poison control experts received 106,714 phone inquiries in 2003, an increase of more than 3,500 calls from the previous year.

If you need poison help the Banner Poison Control Center is just a phone call away and can be reached at (800) 222-1222. The center provides a free, 24-hour emergency telephone service for both residents and medical professionals of Maricopa County and parts of Pinal County. The Poison Center nurses provide information about poisonous substances, first aid information, treatment recommendations, drug identification and information, and a healthy dose of support and caring to all callers. Non-emergent information may also be obtained by e-mail.

The Poison Center's Office of Education, which can be reached at (602) 239-2345, also maintains an informative Web site that lists common and dangerous critters, plants and products that are often the cause of several childhood poisonings.

For more information regarding the Banner Poison Control Center at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, please call (602) 239-4411.