Did you know that the California Poison Control System receives nearly 900 calls a day for cases concerning poisonings? And, did you know that nearly 51% of all those cases involve children five years and younger? This is a major problem and in this article, we want for you to learn how you can prevent many of these poisonings.
How Do People Get Poisoned?
In the latest report from the American Association of Poison Control Systems, they give us the top twelve substance categories most frequently involved in human exposures:
- Analgesics (pain killers) (11.73% of all calls)
- Cosmetics/Personal Care Products (toothpaste, lotion, mouthwash, deodorant) (7.95%)
- Cleaning Substances (soap, bleach, pine oil, laundry detergent, shampoo) (7.02%)
- Sedatives/Hypnotics/Antipsychotics (6.13%)
- Foreign Bodies (coins, silica gel, beads, batteries) (4.1%)
- Antidepressants (3.92%)
- Cardiovascular Drugs (3.74%)
- Topical Preparations (for pain relief, acne, etc.) (3.74%)
- Antihistamines (3.43%)
- Pesticides (3.26%)
- old and Cough Preparations (2.73%)
- Alcohol (rubbing, drinking or wood alcohols) (2.71%)
How Can You Prevent Poisonings?
Medicines:
- Use only child resistant covers
- Store them in locked cabinets
- Always return them to safe storage after use.
- Always measure the dose – don’t guess.
- Don’t ever tell kids that medicine is candy.
- Don’t take medicine in front of kids because they often imitate adults.
- Always dispose of old, unused and expired medications properly.
Household Products:
- Select only products with child resistant covers.
- Store them in locked cabinets.
- Return products to safe storage after use.
- Don’t store these products with your food.
- Always keep products in original containers. Don’t ever put them in food or beverage containers.
- Don’t ever turn you back on a child when a product is within reach.
Plants:
Did you know that all parts of azaleas and rhododendrons are poisonous? To protect yourself and children from these and other poisonous plants, you should always:
- Know the names of plants and which ones are poisonous.
- Keep all plants out of the reach of children.
- Teach your children not to put any parts of plants in their mouths.
Food Poisoning:
To prevent food poisoning, take these steps:
- Clean all counters and cutting boards with hot soap and water before preparing food.
- Wash your hands with hot soap and water.
- Carefully wash all raw fruits and vegetables before preparing them.
- Check sealed containers before opening. If a seal has been broken or if the container is no longer vacuum sealed, don’t use it.
- Check the expiration date on foods before preparation.
- Don’t let drippings from raw meat, shellfish or eggs contaminate other foods.
- Refrigerate food promptly after meals.
Pesticides:
- Always keep pesticides out of the reach of children.
- Always store them in a locked cabinet and away from food.
- Keep these products in their original containers. Don’t ever put pesticides in a food or beverage container.
- Always read the product label before use and carefully follow all instructions.
- Never re-use empty pesticide containers. Always follow the label’s instructions and dispose of empty containers properly.
These are easy to follow tips and we highly recommend you go through your home and look for any potential causes of poisonings. If you see a potential problem, you need to correct it immediately.
If you ever suspect a poisoning, call the California Poison Control system at (800) 222-1222. They can be reached at anytime and any place in California. They have pharmacists, physicians, nurses and information providers on stand-by. Language interpreters are always available, too.
