by Melissa Clark Vickers
June 23, 2011

Poisons are everywhere—in your medicine cabinet, under the sink, in storage areas, kitchen cabinets, and the list goes on. If you have a small child, keeping her safe from potential poisons can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, there are commonsense actions you can take to minimize the risk. These actions, combined with vigilant supervision, can prevent most poisoning tragedies.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every day 374 children ages 0 to 19 years are treated in the emergency room for poisoning—and two will die. In 2004, more than 71,000 children were seen in the ER for medication-related poisoning, and 80 percent of those happened when an unsupervised child found—and consumed—medicines. One out of every 180 2-year-old visits to the ER are caused by medication poisoning. These account for twice as many ER visits as poisonings caused by household products such as cleaning solutions or personal care products.

But it’s not just children who are poisoned. In 2009, unintentional poisoning was the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death (the first was motor vehicle crashes). And added to the immeasurable price of the loss or injury of a loved one, poison treatment is expensive. CDC figures show that in 2005, poisonings accounted for $33.4 billion in medical expenses—6 percent of the economic costs of all injuries in the U.S.

Learning how to protect your children from these largely preventable poisoning deaths and injuries, and knowing what to do if your child is exposed to a poison can mean the difference between life and death.

National poison control hotline
Every parent of a toddler needs to post the National Poison Control Hotline number (800) 222-1222 next to every telephone in the house and program it into both parents’ cell phones. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Often, a phone call to this Hotline can provide enough help to avoid a trip to the ER. In 2009, the Hotline staff was able to manage 72 percent of all human poison exposures, thus saving 1.7 million people a trip to the ER.

A key element in poison prevention is becoming aware of the potential poison hazards that surround you. Some are obvious, like the cleaning products with the familiar skull and crossbones logo. Some are largely undetectable, like carbon monoxide or lead in paint. And some you might not even put in a “poison” category—like the medicine you take for pain or high blood pressure, or even that bottle of wine—items that are safe when used appropriately. What may be safe for you could be deadly for your toddler.

Poison prevention tips
The CDC offers the following tips:

Drugs and medicines: Most homes have a variety of prescription drugs (some well past the expiration date), over-the-counter (OTC) medicines “just in case,” vitamins, and minerals. Some of these, especially the OTCs, are packaged in bright colored attractive boxes and flavored to make them taste good to young children. Fortunately, these are usually packaged in “child-resistant” bottles, although no package should be considered 100 percent un-openable by a determined child!

• Keep all medicines locked in medicine cabinets, out of reach of children.

• Follow label directions to make sure the right person is taking the right medication in the right amount at the right time of day (or night).

• Turn on the light when giving or taking medicine at night and double check the label.

• Dispose of old or unused medications appropriately.

• Don’t refer to medicines (or vitamins) as “candy.”

• Be aware of drugs (legal or not) others may bring into your home and make sure your child can’t get to them. This is also important when visiting grandparents, who may no longer think about childproofing.

Household chemicals and carbon monoxide: Most household cleaning supplies are toxic. Keep these chemicals out of sight, out of reach, and (hopefully) out of mind. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas found in combustion fumes that can build up to dangerous levels in a well-sealed house. CO detectors are a good investment. Other safety tips include:

• Always read the label before using a product that may be poisonous.

• Keep chemicals in their original bottles or containers—don’t use food containers for these non-food items!

• Don’t mix household products together.

• Use gloves and other protective clothing if needed, and change your clothes after cleaning before picking up small children.

• Ventilate the area you work in. Keep your children in another room if possible.

• Keep antifreeze and snow salt sealed and tucked away from children and pets.

• Learn about CO poison prevention. Have furnaces and heaters cleaned and checked yearly to reduce carbon monoxide exposure.

Plants and pesticides: Some common houseplants, such as philodendron, are poisonous if ingested. And it’s never too early to teach your children “leaves of three, let it be” to avoid the irritating poison ivy itch.

• Know what kind of plants you have in your house and yard, and which are potentially dangerous to your children and pets.

• Teach your children to have a healthy respect for spiders, insects, snakes, and other animals. As your children grow, you can help them learn which ones are dangerous.

• Assume all wild mushrooms are toxic, and save identification for an expert.

• The bright red berries of a holly plant may look like little grapes to a small child—but are toxic. Teach your children to only eat the foods that you okay first.

• Follow package directions when storing or using pesticides.

Poison treatment tips
What should you do if you suspect your child has been poisoned? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following:

Swallowed poisons: If you find your child with an open or empty container of medication or household chemicals—any non-food item—it is possible she’s been poisoned. Stay calm, but act quickly:

• If your child is unconscious, not breathing, having convulsions or seizures, call 911 immediately!

• Do not make your child vomit as it may cause more damage. The AAP no longer recommends having a bottle of ipecac on hand to induce vomiting for treatment of some poisons. There has been no research to indicate this is helpful, and vomiting may cause more harm. The AAP recommends disposing of old bottles of ipecac by flushing them down the toilet.

• Check your child’s mouth for evidence of the substance—have her spit out any remainders, or remove it with your fingers. Keep this material to help determine what she may have swallowed.

• If your child is not showing any truly alarming symptoms, call the National Poison Control Hotline at (800) 222-1222. If the item is very toxic, or your child is very young or has another medical condition, you may be advised to take her to the nearest hospital. In less severe circumstances, the operator may give you instructions to follow at home. Be prepared to give the following information to the hotline operator:

1. Your name and phone number
2. Your child’s name, age, and weight
3. Any medical conditions your child has
4. Any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter) your child is taking
5. The name of the item your child has swallowed—read it directly from the container and spell the name, if possible
6. The time your child swallowed the poison (or when you found her)
7. The amount of the item you think she swallowed

Poison on the skin: If a dangerous chemical spills on your child, remove his clothing and rinse the skin with room-temperature water for 15 minutes. Then call the Poison Control hotline.

Poison in the eye: Flush your child’s eye for 15 minutes. The AAP suggests having another adult hold your child if possible while you hold her eyelid open and pour room-temperature water into the inner corner. If another adult isn’t available to help, AAP suggests wrapping the child in a towel and holding her under one arm. Call the Poison Control hotline after flushing the eye.

Poisonous fumes: If your child is exposed to poisonous fumes from a car running in a closed garage, or poorly functioning space heaters, kerosene stoves, or water heaters that use gas, take him outside to breathe fresh air. If he has stopped breathing, start CPR immediately and don’t stop until he can breathe on his own. Have someone else call 911 immediately, or if you are alone, wait until your child is breathing or after one minute of CPR.

As your child grows
Poison risks change as your child grows. A baby who is not yet independently mobile is less likely to get into harmful poisons than one who is old enough to crawl or walk. It’s best to be proactive and prepare your home long before baby can move freely. A crayon dropped within your baby’s reach may seem harmless but back-to-school and art supplies can be toxic if ingested. As your child becomes more verbal and is able to understand and follow directions, you can begin to teach her about safety and potential dangers. These lessons can begin long before the need for careful supervision ends. And safe storage of all toxic items should be routine for all of us. For more information about poison prevention, go to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poison Help website.

Last reviewed on March 25, 2012.

Melissa Clark Vickers is a west Tennessee IBCLC, and child and family health editor. She is mom to Dan and Merrilee, and mom-in-law to Sunny and Alex.