Poison Prevention Tips

Any non-food item is a potential poison. Each year in Alabama thousands of children are accidently poisoned by swallowing medicines, polishes, insecticides, antifeeze, drain cleaners, and other household or garage products. Approximately sixty percent of all calls to the Alabama Poison Center concern the poisoning of a child. Some of these poisonings can be fatal, so it is the responsibility of every adult to make sure children are not exposed to potentially toxic substances.

ALWAYS...ALWAYS...

1. Keep household cleaners, insect sprays, medicines and garage products out of sight and out of reach of children. Lock these products up when possible.
2. Rinse out empty household product containers and place them in a covered trash can.
3. Prepare and use products according to label directions.
4. Request "safety-lock" tops on all prescription medications and be sure the non-prescription medicines you buy have "safety tops".
5. Store medicines in their original containers.
6. Read label directions before taking or giving medicines.
7. Discard medicines no longer used in the toilet, rinse out containers, and place in a covered trash can.
8. Provide initial first aid according to APC's EMERGENCY ACTION page when someone is exposed to a poison, and then call the Alabama Poison Center.
9. Keep Syrup of Ipecac on hand, but ONLY give when instructed by a physician or poison center.

NEVER...NEVER...NEVER...

1. Store food and household cleaners together.
2. Transfer household products from their original container into another container such as a soft drink cup, milk bottle, cup, or bowl.
3. Take or give medicine in the dark.
4. Call medicine "candy".
5. Leave a child alone with medicine bottles or household products.
6. Let a child play with medicine bottles, diapering supplies, or household product containers.
7. Keep medicines in diaper bags or pocketbooks.
8. Let children pump gas.
9. Induce vomiting by giving salt water, raw eggs, or sticking finger down throat.

Additional Poison Prevention Tips...

1. Avoid taking medicine in front of your children, because children often imitate adults they love.
2. Anticipate your child's abilities. For example, if your child is still crawling, keep household products stored above floor level...NOT under the kitchen or bathroom sink.
3. Don't underestimate your child's abilities. There is no such thing as a "child proof" cap. Children CAN open "child-proof" containers, and children often climb to get to where medicines are stored.
4. Buy potentially poisonous products ONLY when needed and ONLY in the amount required for a specific job.
5. Be alert for a repeat poisoning. A child who has been poisoned in the past is more likely to be poisoned again within a year.
6. Place a Alabama Poison Center sticker on your phone.
7. Use the Alabama Poison Center Checklist to Poison Proof Your Home.
8. Many product labels and antidote charts give incorrect information. If someone is exposed to a poison call the experts. Call the Alabama Poison Center.
9. Over-the-products CAN be toxic. Even products like vitamins, baby powder, and cough syrup can be dangerous if not used correctly.