Poison and Kids – Part 2 first appeared in the Public Opinion Newspaper.
Protecting our children from poisonous items in the home takes time and effort. Andrew Kyle Ducey, certified registered pediatric nurse practitioner at Keystone Pediatrics, shares what you need to do to keep your kids safe and what to do if you discover they have ingested something dangerous.
2.2 million Children affected
Most children who swallow poison are not permanently harmed, especially if they receive prompt medical attention. Of the 2.2 million cases of poisoning per year, approximately 68% of cases can be managed at home or with your pediatrician only after consulting the Poison Control Center. However, each year there are 300,000 episodes of child poisoning leading to hospitalization, and 30,000 children die from poisoning.
Lock it up
The best way for parents to prevent poisoning is to lock up potentially dangerous household items and keep any other potentially harmful items out of reach of children at all times. Substances most commonly ingested by children younger than 6 years old include cosmetics, household cleaning products, medications, toys, vitamins, pesticides/ plants, supplements, and arts & craft supplies.
Start at 6 months old
Parents should always store medications and household products in their original manufactured containers. Children can easily get confused if a potentially poisonous product is inappropriately stored in a container that was once used to store food. Parents should start surveying their house for risks for poison exposure starting when their child is around 6 months of age or when they become mobile.
Poison Control
It is recommended that, as children age, parents periodically assess their homes for new potentially harmful or dangerous environments. Parents should keep the Poison Control Center phone number (1-800-222-1222) near their phone. If parents have additional concerns they should be encouraged to discuss these with their pediatrician.
When to seek help
The Poison Control Center can be reached toll free at 1-800-222-1222. If you can’t call the poison center, then parents should call 911 or report directly to the nearest emergency department. Different poison exposures require varied treatment methods; therefore, if poisoning is of a concern then it is best to seek medical help promptly.
For more information about Keystone Pediatrics, click here.
