Poison exposure can happen to anyone, but the propensity of 1 to 3-year-olds to put everything into their mouths puts them at highest risk. This activity is normal for that age but it means caregivers must be extremely careful with household products and medications.
Of the more than 100,000 annual calls to the Illinois Poison Center (IPC), more than half of those reportedly involve children under age five. The Illinois Poison Center is a 24-hour hotline that provides free poison prevention and treatment advice.
In a recent incident, Saint Anthony’s ER team treated a youngster who had gotten into an over-the-counter pain reliever. The child is fine now, but the accident caused quite a scare for the parents.
“Common items such as aspirin, acetaminophen, mouthwash, furniture polish, drain cleaners, lead paint, paint thinners or weed killers should be kept out of sight and reach of children,” cautioned Russ Schroeder, Director of Emergency Services at Saint Anthony's Hospital.
Health care professionals nationwide and the IPC celebrate March as Poison Prevention Month, with the week of March 18-24 being used to bring special attention to the potential of poison incidents.
“This is a great opportunity for parents to take a minute to make sure that children in your home or in your care are as safe as possible from poisonings. Parents should store harmful products out of their children's reach at all times, and to be aware of young children's growing capacities to explore and experiment,” Russ said.
If you suspect a poisoning incident, you can call The Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222, call 9-1-1, or come to Saint Anthony's Emergency Department. Numbers for each should be posted on or near a phone.
Receive a free magnet with Poison Prevention Tips from Saint Anthony's Emergency Services! Send an e-mail including your name, mailing address and phone number, and type Magnet Offer in the subject line. Or, call Saint Anthony's Health Resource Center at 618/465-2264.