Ingestions
The California Poison Control Center 1-800-8POISON (876-4766)
The California Poison Action Line: 1-800-222-1222
Young children will put almost anything into their mouths. More 1 to 3 year olds are poisoned than any other age group. Children always seem to find a way to get to something which has been put out of their reachunless it has been locked away.
Know what is potentially dangerous in your home.
Common examples are:
Lye and drain cleaners…………………….Bleach
Weed killers……………………………….Ant Poison
Furniture polish……………………………Snail bait
Insect sprays………………………..Oven cleaners
Turpentine…………………………………….Kerosene
Gasoline……………………..Nail polish remover
Alcohol…………………………………….Medications
Safety guidelines to avoid dangerous ingestions include:
- Keep potentially dangerous products out of sight and out of reach of children or grandchildren.
- Return medication to safe storage immediately. Never leave pills on the table before taking them.
- Use child-resistant packaging and keep product in original containers.
- Do not give or take medicines in the dark.
- Read and carefully follow the directions for using household products.
- Know the hazard potential of all plants in your home or garden.
- If you think that your child has swallowed a poisonous substance, first call our office or the Regional Poison Control Center at 1-800-876-4766 or 1-800-222-1222 (the Poison Action Line). Keep these telephone numbers handy. The poison control center has stickers that can be placed on the phone. The Poison Control Center is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
- Always re-engage closures in the locked mode immediately after using a pharmaceutical or consumer product.
- Never transfer a substance from its original to an alternate container.
- Safely dispose of all unused and no longer needed medications.
- Syrup of Ipecac should no longer be used routinely as a poison treatment intervention in the home. Also, the routine administration of activated charcoal in the home is not encouraged.
