Every day, there are nearly 400 children under the age of 20 who are treated in emergency rooms across the United States as a result of unintentional poisonings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition to these injuries, two kids are killed every day because of these same kinds of accidents. It’s not just household chemicals that parents have to be worried about any more. Nowadays, there are more and more products that can cause serious injuries to children in Riviera Beach and elsewhere.
To help to reduce the risks of poison-related child injury in Riviera Beach and elsewhere, the National Safety Council (NSC) is holding Poison Prevention Week through March 24. This nationwide campaign is designed to raise awareness about the dangers associated with many our common household products and medicines.
Our Riviera Beach injury lawyers would like to take this time to warn parents about the risks associated with dangerous chemicals and products. Children can be easily poisoned by pills, liquid medicines and even household cleaners. Fortunately, there are a few precautionary steps that parents and other adults can practice to help ensure that children cannot gain access to these items. As part of Poison Prevention Week, we are sharing these preventative steps with you and your family to help keep the kids in your household safe.
Unintentional poisoning is defined as the unsupervised consumption, excessive use or “overdose” of drugs, chemicals or exposure to environmental substances.
Some of the most common forms of poisons include over-the-counter medications, personal care products, prescriptions and cleaning products. Many of these items are found scattered throughout each of our homes. As a matter of fact, these items are so common that about 80 percent of poisoning incidents happen when a child swallows prescription medications or over-the-counter medicines when an adult is not supervising.
Tips to Help Prevent Accidental Poisonings Among Children:
-Keep your vitamins and your medicines out of reach and out of sight of children. This goes for prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs as well.
-Never leave vitamins or medicines out. Always put them away right after you’re done using them. It’s important that you never leave them on the counter or anywhere a child can see/access.
-Explain to your children what medicine is and why you take it. Explain to them that they’re never to take medicine unless you give it to them. Reiterate that it’s not candy, nor does it taste like candy.
-When closing your medicines, always listen for the click indicating that the cap is locked shut.
-Inform guests of your rules regarding medicines and vitamins and ask that they follow the same rules to help keep children safe.
The child injury attorneys at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC are here to help those who have been injured in the South Florida area. If you or your child has been injured in an accident in Riviera Beach or in any of the surrounding areas, call 1-800-561-7777 to schedule a free and confidential consultation today.
More Blog Entries:
Chuggington and the NHTSA Team up to Help Prevent Child Injury in Vero Beach and Elsewhere, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, October 8, 2011
All-Terrain Vehicles Can Cause Severe Injury in Port St. Lucie Accidents, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, July 30, 2011