Spring Brings Change – Be Alert to Poison Risks
National Poison Prevention Week

March 24, 2005 -- Spring is a favorite time of year for fun—but children are at greater risk of poisoning: kids on Spring Break; Easter egg hunts in the yard; and families on the move. All of these changes potentially expose children to medicines that are left within reach, spring cleaning supplies that are left out, and plants and chemicals in our yards.

Poison control centers in the United States receive 1.2 million calls each year that involve the unintentional poisoning of a child age 5 or under. About 90,000 children in that age group are treated in emergency rooms for poisoning and approximately 40 die. Nearly 90 percent of toxic exposures occur in the home. Medicines are not the only concern; 60 percent involve non-pharmaceutical products such as cosmetics, cleansers, personal care products, plants, pesticides, art supplies, alcohol and toys.

Each Spring, the Poison Control Center encourages families to take time to make sure their homes and yards are safe. In addition, this week, March 20-26, is National Poison Prevention Week, an annual program established by an act of Congress in 1961 to spread the message that children act fast...so do poisons! It doesn't take much to make a small child sick; they have faster metabolisms than adults and anything they ingest will be absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream.

Child-resistant packaging is credited with saving hundreds of children's lives since its introduction in the 1970s.. Childhood lead poisoning declined 80 percent in the 15 years after unleaded gasoline and paint became industry standards. Still, there is no substitute for active supervision and childproofing. If a product label says keep out of reach of children, there's a reason. Keep it up high and in a locked cabinet.

SAFE KIDS Washoe County, led by REMSA, reminds parents and caregivers to keep the poison control hotline number handy. Memorize this toll-free number: 1-800-222-1222. Keep it beside every phone in your home and program it into your cell phone. From anywhere in the United States, this number will connect you to the local poison control center.

Call 911, not poison control, if a child is choking, having trouble breathing or having a seizure. Follow the 911 operator's instructions. Do not induce vomiting or give the child any fluid or medication unless directed.

SAFE KIDS Washoe County offers these additional tips:

• Children are drawn to “look alikes.” Cleaners that resemble juice or sports drink colors may get easily confused. Stay alert while using cleansers or other potentially harmful substances. A child can be poisoned in a matter of seconds. Never leave them alone with an open container of something you wouldn't want them to ingest.
• Children want to be just like mommy or daddy. Common household items such as cosmetics, nail polish and remover, mouthwash, and adult vitamins attract children because they watch adults use them. These substances pose great risks for children.
• Don't refer to medicine or vitamins as candy. Children should not think of therapeutic substances as treats. When you administer medicine to your children, follow dosage directions carefully.
• Learn which plants are poisonous. Before digging in the dirt, teach children not to put any part of an outdoor plant in their mouths. Keep poisonous houseplants out of reach or out of the house period.
• Test your home for lead. Inhaled lead dust can build up enough in children’s blood to effect intelligence, growth and development. An estimated 890,000 children ages 1 to 5 have too much lead in their blood. Lead-based paint was used in homes until 1978, so it is important to test older homes.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that builds up around fuel-burning appliances, cars in garages, and is present in tobacco smoke. A child can become seriously ill when exposed to concentrations that would barely effect an adult.
• Store medications and any potentially harmful products in their original containers with their original labels. Discuss precautions with grandparents and relatives. Grandparents may have medications that can be very dangerous to children, and their homes might not be as well childproofed as yours.
• Learn CPR. In less than three hours, you can learn effective interventions that give a child whose breathing and heartbeat have stopped a fighting chance. Contact REMSA at 858-5700 or visit www.remsa-cf.com to learn about class schedules.

National SAFE KIDS is a member of the Poison Prevention Week Council. For more information, visit the National SAFE KIDS website at www.safekids.org, contact Poison Control or REMSA at 858-5700.

450 Edison Way Reno, Nevada 89502 (775)858-5700 Fax (775)858-5720