Approximately 50% of poison center cases involve children under the age of six. The following is a list of things that make this age group so vulnerable:
Natural Curiosity
Young children are naturally curious and typically learn by trying. New things may be explored by looking, touching, smelling, or tasting. It is the adult’s responsibility to make sure that items within their reach will not harm them.
Imitation
Young children often imitate the adults in their lives. This can lead to ingestions of medications or drinking a household cleaner or alcoholic beverage by mistake.
Improper Storage
Leaving products on the counter or table between uses increases the chance that a child will get into it.
Lack of Supervision
Children will get into things they shouldn’t when an adult is not paying attention. This includes when adults are cooking, answering the door or phone, taking a shower, or visiting with friends.
Look-Alikes
Medicines, laundry pods, THC edibles, and other products are often mistaken for candy by young children, while liquid cleaners and chemicals can look like drinks.
Prevention
Most poisonings are preventable! Here are simple steps to protect young children:
- Lock medicines and household products in a safe place away from children. Placing items on high shelves is not enough. Children are great climbers!
- Take medicines at a time or in a place where children are not watching. Children learn by imitation.
- Put the Poison Help number on or near every telephone in the house: 1-800-222-1222. It is also a good idea to program it into every working cell phone.
- Be sure babysitters and others caring for your children have the phone number posted in their homes.