National Poison Prevention Week
National Poison Prevention Week
Origin
On September 26, 1961, the
Poisoning: A National Scourge
More than two million potential poison exposures are reported every year to American
Though calls regarding children still make up more than half of all calls to poison control centers, they only account for a small percent of the deaths due to poisoning. Poisoning of adults is on the rise in our nation and only stands behind motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths.[4]
Over 1000 Americans die from poisoning every year.[5]
Poisoning: Prevent It
The American Association of Poison Control Centers, representing the poison control center network of the United States, offers the following poison prevention tips:
- If you think someone has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222 right away. Serious poisonings don't always have early signs.
- Put the number for your poison control center (1-800-222-1222) in your cell phone and near home phones.
- Keep medicines and household products in their original containers in a different place than food.
- Always read product labels and follow any directions.
- Keep household products and medicines locked up. Put them where kids can't see them or reach them.
- Buy products with child-resistant packaging. But remember, nothing is child-proof.
- Never call medicine "candy." Poisons may look like food or drink. Teach children to ask an adult before tasting anything.
- Learn about products and drugs that young people use to get "high." Talk to your teen or pre-teen about these dangers.
- Have a working carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach your local poison control center, anywhere in the United States. The call is free, private, 24/7/365, and expert help is available in more than 150 languages.
The National Poison Prevention Week Council
The National Poison Week Prevention Week Council was established in early 1962 to oversee the national observation of National Poison Prevention Week.
As of August 2011, the National Poison Prevention Week Council included representatives of the following organizations:[6]
- American Academy of Clinical Toxicology
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Association of Poison Control Centers
- American Cleaning Institute
- American College of Emergency Physicians
- American Pharmacists Association
- American Red Cross National Headquarters
- American Society for Testing and Materials
- Art & Creative Materials Institute
- Closure & Container Manufacturers Association
- Consumer Healthcare Products Association
- Consumer Specialty Products Association
- Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- National Community Pharmacists Association
- National Safety Council
- SAFE KIDS Worldwide
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
References
- ^ a b "John F. Kennedy: Proclamation 3449 - National Poison Prevention Week". Presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) National Poison Data System (NPDS)
- ^ American Association of Poison Control Centers National Poison Data System (NPDS) Annual Report
- ^ American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) National Poison Data System (NPDS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQUARS).
- ^ Wikisource. . March 13, 2009 – via
- ^ "Poison Prevention.Org". Poison Prevention.Org. September 26, 1961. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2010.