Help Your Kids Avoid The “Yuk Face”

The American Association of Poison Control Centers finds that over 2 million Americans come into contact with poisonous materials each year. Their statistics show that more than 90% of exposures to poison occur in the home, and most of the victims of that exposure are children under 6 years old. All of our homes contain potentially unsafe things, from medicine and bathroom cleaners, to insecticide and nail polish removal. The list of these poisonous items is a long one, and significantly longer if there are small children in the home. The National Capital Poison Center suggests a few tips for preventing poisoning in both children and adults in your household:

• Store medicines and household products in their original containers.
• Lock medicines and household products where children cannot see or reach them.
• Use child-resistant packaging. Replace the caps tightly after using a product.
• Read the label before taking or giving medicine—every time.
• Use household products according to label directions. Mixing household products can cause dangerous gases to form.
• Install a carbon monoxide alarm.

Check out the National Capital Poison Center website for more information on how you can keep your family safe from poisons in your home.