Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and the Greater Cleveland Poison Control Center want to remind parents and caregivers that children act fast...so do poisons! Poison control centers in the United States receive 1.2 million calls each year as a result of accidental poisoning of children ages 5 and under. Because nine out of ten toxic exposures occur in the home, parents are the first line of defense in protecting their children from poisoning. Parents may think that prescription and over-the-counter medications are the biggest poisoning threat to children, but in fact 60 percent of cases involve non-pharmaceutical products such as cosmetics, cleansers, personal care products, plants, pesticides, art supplies, alcohol and toys.
“It doesn’t take much to make a small child sick,” said
Dr. Lawrence Quang, Medical Director of the Greater Cleveland Poison Control Center and pediatric emergency department physician at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, lead agency for the Poison Center. “Kids have faster metabolisms than adults and anything they ingest will be absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly.”
While the U.S. has made great strides since the 1970s in protecting children by mandating child-resistant packaging and banning lead in gasoline and paint, children are still at risk: poisoning exposures lead to 68,000 emergency room visits and more than 50 deaths each year for children ages 5 and under. “There is no substitute for active supervision and childproofing,” said Dr. Quang. “If a product label says ‘keep out of reach of children,’ there’s a reason. Keep it up high and in a locked cabinet.”
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Greater Cleveland Poison Control Center reminds parents to keep the poison control hotline number handy. “Memorize this toll-free number: 800-222-1222,” Dr. Quang said. “Keep it near every phone in your home and program it into your cell phone.” From anywhere in the United States, this number connects to the local poison control center, which can offer emergency treatment advice, answer questions about medicines and products, and provide information about poisons in your home, outdoors, or at work.
“Call 911, not poison control, if a child is choking, having trouble breathing or having a seizure,” said Dr. Quang. “Follow the 911 operator’s instructions. Do not induce vomiting or give the child any fluid or medication unless directed.”