Poisoning Safety Tips

• Read labels and find out which household products or plants are poisonous. If you are not sure about something, keep it where children can't reach it.
• Lock up poisons and medicines out of sight and reach of children.
• Don't take medicine in front of children. They might try to copy you.
• Never leave potentially poisonous household products unattended while you are using them.
• Throw away old medicines and cleaning products.

Source: Safe Kids Worldwide, www.safekids.org

The Alaska Community Medical Resource Database (ACMRD) is an online resource database of Emergency Medical Services, hospitals, and clinics throughout the state. Oregon Poison Center staff utilize ACMRD to provide information on medical assistance to Alaskan callers. Click on the icon above to access the database.

Program Objective: To reduce child deaths and injuries caused by poisonings by educating parents, childcare providers, and healthcare professionals about Alaska-specific poisonings and methods of treatment.

Problem Statement: Unintentional poisoning is the second leading cause of injury hospitalizations for Alaskan children age 0-4. Medications, lamp oil, petroleum products, cosmetics/perfume, household products/cleaners, carbon monoxide, botulism, and plant exposures are common means of poisonings to Alaska's children.
Children are frequently confused about what a poison is; they may know that poisons are 'bad', but do not realize that something sweet-smelling or tasting can be poison too. Many poisonings occur when children are hungry or stressed, or when there is a change in routine such as a holiday.

Strategies and Activities: Alaska-specific brochures, stickers and magnets with the national poison center hotline number, and poison control posters have been distributed throughout the state. A video on poison prevention (produced in 2002) is available through the ISAP office.

CARBON MONOXIDE INFORMATION

Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
National Safety Council's Air Quality Program
Information Site on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Cost: Stickers and brochures are available at no cost from ISAP.

Contact: Maria Bailey , ISAP, 465-4170

American Association of Poison Control Centers www.aapcc.org
Oregon Poison Center www.ohsu.edu/poison/