Tiny Hands, Big Risks

Protecting children from accidental poisonings

In 2022, U.S. Poison Centers responded to 2,064,875 cases of poisoning. That’s an average of one new case every 15 seconds. Of those, 40% (97,000) were for children under the age of five. Additionally, an estimated 68,600 children under the age of five were seen in the emergency department for accidental poisoning.

While the source of poisoning ranged from cleaning products and laundry detergent pods to fentanyl patches and cosmetics, there was one common theme: 93% of accidental poisonings occurred in the home

Prevention is key to keeping children safe. Family members and caregivers should work to identify hazards in the home that could be a poisoning danger and keep them out of a child’s sight and reach. 

Here’s where to start:

 Drugs or Medications 

• Keep medications safely stored in a locked cabinet or box and out of the reach of children. 

• Keep medicines in their original child-resistant containers and never in unsecured containers. 

• Properly discard unfinished or unused medicines. 

• If a family member is taking a medication like Suboxone for opioid use disorder, you should keep a dose of Narcan (Naloxone) in the home in case of accidental ingestion

• Beware of vitamins, medications, and other substances that are in a gummy form, as they are often mistaken for a candy.

Laundry Packets or Pods 

• Store laundry packets in their original containers and out of a child’s sight and reach. 

• Do not let children handle laundry detergent packets. 

Household Cleaning Supplies 

• Keep chemicals and cleaning supplies safely stored in a locked cabinet or box and out of the reach of children. 

• Keep household chemicals in their original child-resistant containers. 

Button Cell or Coin Batteries 

• Keep products with accessible batteries away from children if the battery compartments do not have a screw closure or if the compartment is damaged.  

• Check the toys in your home to make sure battery compartments are secured. 

• Do not allow children to play with or be in contact with button cell or coin batteries. 

• Click here to learn more about the dangers of button and coin batteries.

If you think your child has been exposed to a poison, remain calm and:

Call 911 right away if they:

Are having difficulty breathing OR

Have collapsed or are losing consciousness OR

Are having a seizure

If they are conscious and breathing easily:

Call a Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Be prepared to provide the following information when you call:

• The specific substance consumed. It’s helpful to refer to the label for this information

• The age and weight of person exposed and any existing health conditions they may have

• Any first aid provided

• If the patient has vomited

• How far you are from the nearest hospital

For online assistance or more information on accidental poisonings, visit Poison.org.

Moriah Krason, MD, FAAP is a general pediatrician at SVMC Pediatrics in Bennington.