CPSC Urges Observance Of National Poison Prevention Week

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers to observe National Poison Prevention Week -- March 16-22 -- by checking their homes to make sure all toxic household products are out of the reach of children. The Commission estimates that as many as one million children under the age of five may be accidentally poisoned every year.

The purpose of National Poison Prevention Week is to reduce this tragic toll of injury and death among young children from accidental poisoning by creating broad public awareness of the problem.

CPSC administers the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, which requires that a number of household substances be sold in child-resistant packaging. Furniture polish, drain cleaner, turpentine, and aspirin products are among those products which must be safety packaged. To aid the handicapped and elderly, manufacturers of those items may use conventional packaging for one size of a particular product.

The Commission strongly recommends, however, that consumers buy products with safety packaging. CPSC injury data indicates a 20 percent decline in the number of aspirin ingestions since the safety packaging requirements went into effect.

Some 28 other government agencies, medical and pharmaceutical associations and youth organizations have joined with CPSC in observing National Poison Prevention Week. The Commission recommends that consumers store toxic substances and medicines intended for internal use separately from other household substances. Consumers should also keep the telephone numbers of the nearest hospital, doctor, and poison control center handy.