National Poison Prevention Week

This week, National Poison Prevention Week, which is a great time to remember how dangerous things can

be in our homes and neighborhoods. This year, during Poison Prevention Week the focus will still be on education, raising awareness, and taking steps to keep our loved ones safe from poisonings that happen by chance.

National Poison Prevention Week was created by Congress in 1961. Its goal is to make people more aware of the dangers of accidental poisoning and to promote ways to avoid them. Every year, thousands of people, mostly kids and older people, are poisoned by mistake, and many of these cases could have been avoided.

Important Points:

Household Hazards: Common household things like medicines, cleaning products, and even some plants can be very dangerous if they are swallowed or handled incorrectly. It is very important to store these things correctly and keep them out of reach of children.

Medication Safety: To avoid accidental poisonings, it is very important to store medications correctly and follow the dosage guidelines. Do not share prescription drugs, and always use child-proof packing when it is available.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness: Carbon monoxide is a colorless and invisible gas that can kill you if you breathe it in at high levels. It is often called the "silent killer." Put carbon monoxide detectors in your home and make sure that machines that burn fuel are well taken care of.

Poison Control Resources: Learn about the poison control centers in your area and keep their phone numbers handy in case of an emergency. These sites give helpful advice in the event of poison exposure and can help keep bad things from happening.

Checklist for your home safety

Kitchen
• Remove products like detergent and drain
cleaner from under the sink.
• Remove medicines from counters, tables,
refrigerator top and window sills.
• Put child safety latches on all drawers and
cabinets that contain harmful products. They
work for pets too.
Bathroom
• Clean out your medicine cabinet often and
dispose of medications that are no longer being
used or have expired. Refer to the RMPDC
Medication Safety Guide for proper disposal
instructions.
• Keep all medicine in original safety-top
containers.
• Keep medicine, hair spray, powder, make-up,
fingernail polish, hair-care products, mouthwash
and other personal-care products out of reach.
Bedroom
• Don’t keep medicine in or on dresser or bedside
table.
• Keep perfume, make-up, aftershave, and other
products out of reach.
• Don’t store anything potentially toxic under the
bed.
Laundry Area
• Keep bleach, soap, fabric softener and other
supplies out of reach.
• Keep all products in their original containers.
Garage/Basement
• Keep bug spray, weed killers, gasoline, oil, paint,
and other supplies in locked area.
• Keep all products in their original containers.
General Household
• Keep beer, wine, and liquor out of reach.
• Keep ashtrays clean and out of reach.
• Keep plants out of reach.
• Keep paint in good repair.

Pet Safety

Breathes Poison:
Immediately get the animal to fresh air. Avoid breathing fume. Open doors and windows wide.
Gets poison on the skin:
Flood the skin with water for 10 minutes. Then wash
gently with soap and water and rinse.
Swallows Poison:
Medicines: Do not give pet anything until you talk with
the poison center or your veterinarian.
Chemicals or Household Products: Unless your pet
has passed out or cannot swallow, give water right away

This information was found on rmpds Check it out for more great tips!

All over the country, people hold events and activities to raise awareness about poison safety during National Poison Prevention Week. These projects, like educational workshops and social media efforts, aim to give people the tools and information they need to stop poison-related incidents.

This week is a powerful reminder of how important it is to be careful and take action to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm. Let's use this chance to teach, get involved, and speak out against poisoning so that everyone can live in a healthier and safer atmosphere.