SAFETY And Health

Protect children from
common household poisons

Young children are curious about all objects in their environment, especially ones that come in different colors, glitter or shine, rattle when shaken, or look like food or drink. Injury to a child is one of a parent's or guardian's worst nightmares.

Many common household products are poisonous to children. Each year poison control centers report nearly 1 million children under the age of five are exposed to poisonous medicines and household chemicals. Medicines, household substances, insect sprays, kerosene, lighter fluid, furniture polishes, turpentine, paints, solvents, and products containing lye and acids are the most frequent causes of poisoning among young children.

We know it is our responsibility to use and store potentially harmful products safely away from children. It is good to take an inventory of your home and clean out the medicine cabinet periodically.

Do you know what to do in the case of a poisoning?

1. It is important to remain calm.

2. Call the poison center, your physician, or the number on the back of the label of the product (if present). The Poison Control Center is at (800) 942-5969.

3. Have the following information ready: Age of the child, your name and phone number, name of the product and ingredients (have the product label present when you call), amount involved, time the poisoning occurred, and any symptoms.

4. The poison center or your doctor will give you instructions on what to do next.

5. Know how to give first aid if a poisoning occurs.

Inhaled poison: immediately get the person to fresh air. Avoid breathing fumes- Open doors and windows wide. If the victim is not breathing, start CPR.

Swallowed poison: for corrosive chemicals give the victim milk or water to drink immediately, then call for professional help. For anything else, call for advice about whether to make the individual vomit.

Poison in the eye: flood the eye with lukewarm 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.

Poison on the skin: remove contaminated clothing and flood skin with water for 10 minutes. Then wash gently with soap and water and rinse.

Ways to protect against poisoning incidents:

• Store all drugs and chemicals in their original containers and out of reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.

• Never put products in food or beverage containers. Children will think it is good to eat or drink. If you throw away the original container, you also throw away first aid instructions.

• Follow all label instructions and precautions. Follow warnings to open windows, wear gloves and not breathe product dust.

• Always turn on the light when giving or taking medicine to be sure you have the right medicine and dosage.

• Avoid taking medicines in front of children since children learn by imitation.

• Replace caps properly and store products out of reach and sight of children.

• Never call medicine candy. Teach children that household products are not toys.

• Insist on child resistant caps for medicines.

• Keep the phone number of the poison center attached to your telephone. Don't hesitate to call if you have a problem or a question.

The Illinois Poison Center (IPC) alerts consumers that syrup of ipecac and activated charcoal are no longer recommended at-home treatments for poisoning or suspected poisoning cases by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If a poisoning or suspected poisoning occurs, the IPC joins the AAP in urging individuals to contact a regional poison center immediately at (800) 222-1222 for free, confidential treatment recommendations. This IPC recommendation supports a recently revised policy on in-home use of syrup of ipecac by the AAP, released in November 2003.

Patti Faughn, Family Life Educator, University of Illinois Extension, Springfield Center, (217) 782-6515. pfaughn@uiuc.edu

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