East Brunswick Schools

Poison Prevention

Dear Parents/Guardians:

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, each year, approximately 2.4 million people swallow or have contact with a poisonous substance. Here are some tips to prevent and treat exposure to poison.

* Store medicine, cleaners, paints/varnishes and pesticides in the original packaging in locked cabinets, out of the sight and reach of children.

* Install a safety latch-that locks when you close the door-on child-accesaible cabinets containing harmful products.

* Purchase and keep all medicines in containers with safety caps. Discard unused medicine.

* Never refer to medicine as "candy".

* Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage.

* Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.

* Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Treatment

* If your child has come into contact with poison, with no symptoms or mild ones, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1212.

* Swallowed poison- Remove item and have child spit out any remaining substance. Do not make your child vomit.

* Skin poison-Remove clothing and rinse skin with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.

* Eye poison- Flush the eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the corner for 15 minutes.

* Poisonous fumes-Take the person outside or into fresh air immediately.

Poison Control Number

1-800-222-1212

Mrs. Ficke RN