Your Home
 Poisoning was the third leading cause of accidental death in
the United States in 1997. The majority of these deaths are children. Children
swallow pills, household cleaners, insecticides, paints, plants and other
products around the home. There are dangers for children in each room of
the house. Most accidental poisonings involve children under 6 years of
age and occur in the home. Products around the home are responsible for
the largest category of accidental poisonings among children. These items
are often attractive to children because of their color and scent. It is
important to know how these incidents can be prevented as well as what
to do if an accidental poisoning occurs.
How can you prevent poisonings?
Store all drugs and other products in their original package, jar or bottle.
Never put products other than food in food containers.
After use of any drug or chemical, put the cap back on and store the product
out of reach and out of sight of children.
Never call medicine candy.
Use products with safety caps.
Read and follow label directions on all products before using them.
Keep the phone number of the West Virginia Poison Center on or near your
telephone.
What to do if a poisoning occurs:
1. Remain calm.
2. Call the West Virginia Poison Center at
1-800-222-1222 or your physician. Have the following information ready:
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Age and weight of patient
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Your name and phone number
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Name of products and contents
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Amount involved
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Time poisoning occurred
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Any symptoms
3. The Poison Center or your physician will tell you
what to do next.
4. Know how to give first aid if a poisoning occurs.
For further help see our Emergency
Action for Poisoning
Is your home safe?
If it's not someone may get hurt. Go through each room described with
this checklist to make sure all potential poisons are properly closed and
stored out of reach of small children and pets.
Poison-proofing your kitchen
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Do all harmful products (e.g. drain cleaners, bug
spray, oven cleaners, detergens/soaps) in the cabinet have child safety
caps?
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Are all harmful products in their original package?
Never store unsafe chemicals in food bottles, jars, etc.
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Keep harmful products stored away from food.
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Have all harmful products been put up high and out
of reach of children. Lock all cabinets that hold unsafe products is the
best poison prevention.
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Install child safety latches on all drawers or cabinets containing harmful
products.
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Keep emergency phone numbers near the phone. Place the West Virginia Poison
Control Center phone sticker on your phone. Also, make sure your name,
address and phone number available in case a babysitter has to call.
Poison-proofing your bathroom
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Do your medicines and other harmful products have child safety caps? Aspirin
and most drugs prescribed by your doctor come with child safety caps. Check
to see that your have them.
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Dispose of all out of date drugs. Flush all old drugs down the toilet.
Rinse the bottle well, then throw it away.
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Give medicine only to the person for whom it was prescribed. Drugs
that work for one person may harm another.
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Are all drugs in their original package, with the original labels? Many
tablets and capsules look alike. If they are not in the correct package,
you can't be sure of what you are taking.
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Keep sprays, cosmetics, fingernail preparations, hair care products, etc.,
out of reach of children.
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Install child safety latches on all drawers or cabinets that contain harmful
products.
Poison-proofing your garage
or storage area
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Almost all things in your garage or storeroom that can be swallowed may
be harmful or deadly. Do these products have child safety caps?
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Are items in the garage stored in original packages with the original labels?
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Have you made sure that no poisons are stored in drinking glasses or pop
bottles?
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Products such as insect spray, weed killer, gasoline, other car products
paints, turpentine should all be stored in locked areas.
Poison-proofing your bedroom
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Remove medicines from bed side tables and dressers.
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Are perfumes, cosmetics, powders, and sachets out of reach of children?
Poison-proofing your laundry
room
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All bleaches, soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, bluing agents, and sprays
should be kept out of reach of children.
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All products should be in original containers.
Emergency
action for poisoning
If the victim is unconscious or having seizures call 911 immediately!
Inhaled Poison
Get the person to fresh air. Avoid breathing
fumes. Open doors and windows wide. If victim is not breathing, start mouth
to mouth resuscitation.
Poison on the Skin
Remove exposed clothing and flood skin with water
for 10 minutes. Then wash gently with soap and water and rinse.
Poison in the Eye
Flood the eye with lukewarm (not hot) water poured
from a large glass 2 or 3 inches from the eye. Repeat for 15 minutes. Have
patient blink as much as possible while flooding the eye. Do not force
the eyelid open.
Swallowed Poison
MEDICINE AND HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS: Unless victim
is passed out, having seizures, or cannot swallow give milk or water, then
call the Poison Center for advice about whether or not you should make
the victim vomit.
After these actions call the
Poison Center!
More Poison Information for your home:
More
Prevention Tips
Protect
Your Child From Iron Poisoning
Carbon
Monoxide Poisoning
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