Poison Prevention

Knowing how to prevent one of the leading causes of child injury, like poisoning is important to help keep your children safe and allow them to live to their full potential. It isn't just chemicals in your home marked with warning labels that are dangerous. Everyday items in your home, such as household cleaners and medicines can be poisonous to children as well. Thankfully there are ways to help poison-proof your home and protect your children.

Prevention Tips

Lock Them Up

Keep medicines and toxic products, such as cleaning solutions, in their original packaging where children can't see or get them.

Know the Number

Put the nationwide poison control center phone number 800-222-1222 on or near every telephone in your home. Call the poison control center if you think your child has been poisoned but they are awake and alert. Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and your child has collapsed or is not breathing.

Read the label

Follow label directions and read all warnings when giving medicines to children.

Don't Keep It if You Don't Need It

Safely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements. To dispose of medicines, mix them with coffee grounds or kitty litter and throw them away. You can also turn them in at a local take-back program or during National Drug Take Back events.

For additional information visit the CA Poison Control Center website.