Each year poison centers in the United States receive more than two million calls about children being accidentally poisoned.
In 2006, in Kentucky, we received more than 29,000 calls about children. In order to reduce the number of children accidentally poisoned we strongly recommend that you:
With prevention - YOU CAN SOMETIMES BE TOO LATE, BUT YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO EARLY.
To poison proof your home we recommend that you do a room by room check with our
POISON SAFETY CHECKLIST
Click here if you want a room by room check list sent to you free of charge.
KEEP ACTIVATED CHARCOAL IN THE HOME
In addition to "poison proofing" your home, we also recommend that you keep a bottle of activated charcoal in the home. Activated charcoal works by adsorbing poisons onto itself and binding them so that they are no longer available to poison the child. Under certain circumstances, if a child has swallowed a poison, activated charcoal can be given and it will bind the poisons right in the stomach, stopping it right there. Activated Charcoal is a black powder that has been specially treated so that it will adsorb and bind poisons. It is very different from the charcoal used in charcoal grills or in charcoal tablets. These other forms of charcoal will NOT work. Activated charcoal has been used in hospital emergency rooms for poisonings for more than 20 years, and is one of the most successful treatments available. The Poison Center now recommends that you keep a bottle in homes with small children. In some cases, having a bottle of activated charcoal in the home may save you a trip to the emergency room as well as save your child from an accidental poisoning. It is also a good idea to have a bottle of activated charcoal at the grandparents’ home, if the grandchildren visit frequently. However, remember, DO NOT give activated charcoal unless instructed to do so by the Poison Center or your physician.
Activated charcoal is available pre-mixed with water (aqueous solution), in bottles of 15 grams (½ ounce) to 28 grams (1 ounce) for home use. It can be bought at most local pharmacies and does not require a prescription. Using Activated Charcoal will NOT harm your child, but it may stain clothing or carpets. Call the Poison Center BEFORE use for instructions and precautions.
Finally the Poison Center continues to recommend that you keep a bottle of syrup of ipecac in the home. Ipecac is used to make a child vomit after a poisoning has occurred. In most cases binding the poison with activated charcoal will be a more effective treatment. However there are some cases, such as vitamins with iron, where ipecac is still needed. Remember, DO NOT give syrup of ipecac unless instructed to do so by the Poison Center or your physician.
KEEP THE POISON CENTER PHONE NUMBER AVAILABLE AND CALL IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD HAS GOTTEN INTO SOMETHING OR A POISONING HAS OCCURRED. 1(800) 222-1222
The poison center is able to manage 75% of all cases outside of the hospital. We ask that you call first before taking other action. This is for several reasons. In many calls to the center the child has gotten into something that will not hurt him and he can be safely cared for at home. This may be because the amount he was exposed to will not hurt him or the substance itself is not dangerous. In cases like these we can save you both the time and expense of a trip to the emergency room. In cases of a more serious nature we can give immediate first aid advice and at the same time contact the local emergency room to get them prepared for the case. In any case you will get to speak with a highly trained expert immediately as soon as you dial the phone.
For a free phone sticker and poison prevention brochure click here.
TOP TEN SUBSTANCES INVOLVED IN CHILDHOOD POISONING
Top 10 Categories of Substances Involved in Poisonings in Children <6 Years Old (2002)
1) Personal Care Products (perfumes, mouthwashes, etc.)
2) Cleaning Substances - Household
3) Cough/Cold Products and Antihistamines
4) Pain Relievers (Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.)
5) Plants and Mushrooms
6) Foreign Bodies
7) Topical Ointments and Creams
8) Insecticides and Rat Poisons
9) Antimicrobials (antibiotics, etc)
10) Hydrocarbons (gasoline, kerosene, etc.)