How to prevent poisonings in children — and what to do if they happen

March 17–March 23, 2019 is National Poison Prevention Week Every day in the United States, over 300 children under the age of 20 are seen in an emergency room because of poisoning, and two of them die. What is most heartbreaking is that poisonings are preventable — and quick action can save lives when they happen. Poisoning prevention Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics to prevent poisoning in children: Keep medicines, cleaning and laundry products, paints and varnishes, as well as pesticides, out of sight and reach of children. If possible, lock these products away. Always keep these products in their original containers, which makes it less likely that they will be ingested by accident. While laundry and dishwasher detergent pods can be convenient, stick with the standard liquids and powders if there are young children in the house. The pods just look too much like candy. Have safety caps for all medications, but don’t rely on them (meaning keep medications out of reach and sight). Make sure you know the correct dose of any medication you give your child, and always use a medication syringe or spoon to measure it (ask your pharmacist for one if you don’t have one). Get rid of any old or unused medicines or cleaning products. The less around, the better. If you use e-cigarettes, only buy nicotine refills in safety containers and keep them out of sight and reach. Nicotine can be very dangerous....
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Children's Health Prevention Safety Source Type: blogs