Top Tips to Prevent Household Poisonings
The American Association of Poison Control Centers has released poison prevention tips for children and adults. A product liability lawyer may be able to help you if you or a loved one has been poisoned by a household chemical. Prevent household poisonings in your home by following these simple rules.
Top Tips to Prevent Household Poisonings
Prescription Drugs:
- Only take prescription medications that are prescribed to you by a healthcare professional.
- Always follow the dosage instructions.
- Read the warning label on your prescription. You may find, for example, that it is not safe to consume alcohol with the medicine.
- Never share or sell your prescription drugs.
- Store prescription medicines in the fridge or upper medicine cabinet, depending on instructions.
- Keep medicines out of the reach of small children or anyone who would try to abuse the medicine.
- Never take or administer medicine in the dark. Turn on a light to be sure that the dosage is correct.
- Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers.
- Discard unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs.
Household Chemicals and Carbon Monoxide:
- Read warning and usage labels before using a product that could be poisonous.
- Keep chemical products in their original bottles or containers.
- Do not use food containers such as cups, bottles, or jars to store chemical products.
- Do not ever mix household products together as they could become poisonous or release toxic gases.
- If you must spray pesticides or other chemicals wear protective clothing to avoid contact with your skin.
- Ventilate the room with fans and open windows when using chemical products such as household cleaners.
Keep Children Safe from Poisoning:
- Put the Washington Poison Control Center number in easy distance of your home phones and save it to your cell phone. 1-800-222-1222.
- Store all medicines and household products up and away or locked in a cabinet where children cannot reach them.
- Do not leave the next dose out on the counter where a child might be tempted to grab. Once the dosage is administered, immediately store the bottle in its correct spot out of sight and reach of the children.
- Close the child safety cap completely every time you use the medicine.
- Do not call medicine “candy” as this is confusing to a child.
- Remove any poisonous plants in your home or yard that could be reached by a child.
What if a poisoning is suspected?
Remain calm if a suspected poisoning has occurred. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing immediately call 911. If the victim is alert and awake call the Washington Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Stay on the line until they have all the information they need and follow their instructions.
The Poison Center may ask you for the following information:
- the victim’s age and weight
- the container or bottle of the poison if available
- the time of the poison exposure
- the address of the location of the poisoning
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