Tips for Keeping Your Family Safe

Every 15 seconds, the phone rings at a poison prevention center somewhere in the U.S. with a report of poison exposure. Over the course of a year, those calls total over 2 million with children below the age of five accounting for almost 40% of poison exposures.

Given that 93% of all poison exposures happen in the home, it makes sense to do whatever’s necessary to prevent accidental poisonings including learning what dangers may be hiding in plain sight.

For example, did you know that cosmetics and personal care products are the most common poisons in pediatric exposures, followed by cleaning products and pain medications? Another issue of growing concern is the consistent increase in pediatric edible cannabis exposures over the past 5 years. In fact, between 2017 and 2022 the number of reported pediatric edible cannabis exposures climbed a startling 1375.0%.

To make your home safe for family and guests, follow these simple tips for securing poisonous substances:

Medication  

• Keep over-the-counter and prescription medication out of reach of children, ideally in a locked cabinet or behind a cabinet door with a child safety latch.
• Keep medicines in their original containers and properly labeled.
• Never refer to medicine as “candy” in order to get your child to take it.
• Be aware of possible drug interactions if you’re taking more than one drug at a time. If you’re not sure if you can take medications together, contact your pharmacist or call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222.
• Dispose of unwanted or expired medications promptly.

Household and personal care products

• Store personal care and household cleaning products out of reach of children.
• Opt for products with child-resistant packaging for extra security.
• Keep household products in their original containers.
• Always follow product instructions for safe and effective use.
• Leave product labels intact as they contain important first aid information.

Household chemicals and substances

• Always wear protective clothing (e.g., gloves, long-sleeved shirt, safety goggles, etc.) when handling harmful chemicals including paint thinners, drain cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers, antifreeze, and more.
• Immediately seal and store chemicals after each use. If you no longer need or want a chemical, contact your local police department for guidance on how to dispose of it.
• Keep chemicals and ‘button’ batteries in locked cabinets and out of reach of kids.
• Check all household devices to be certain the battery compartment is secured shut. If it’s not, use strong tape to secure it.

If you think someone has been exposed to a poison from medicine or household chemicals, remain calm and call a Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222. Staffed with medical professionals 24/7, this free resource can often provide expert guidance faster than waiting for a return call from your pediatrician or other provider.

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 related to accidental poisonings visit Poison.org.

Lynn Mann, DO, is a board-certified pediatrician at SVMC's Northshire Campus in Manchester, VT.