Avoid Accidental Poisoning

Accidental poisoning is the second leading cause of home injury death; sadly many of these deaths could be avoided by taking the proper steps to keep family members safe from poisoning in the home.

Read labels to determine the potential for poisoning in young children and elders. Lock away any products that have the words “Danger”, “Warning”, or “Caution” on the label.

Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector near bedrooms and furnaces (at least 15 feet away) to detect unsafe levels of CO in your home. Schedule a service check for all gas appliances and fireplaces to ensure proper operating condition. Always have the number for the Poison Control Hotline nearby. Cut out the tag below and place it near all phones

Choking Prevention

In addition to food, there are household items that can become choking hazards.
You can help ensure a safe environment by keeping these items away from infants and young children:

Latex balloons, coins, marbles, toys with small parts, toys that can be compressed to fit entirely into a child's mouth, small balls, pen or marker caps, small button-type batteries, medicine syringes, decorative metallic confetti (sometimes used in greeting cards).

Choking can be prevented. Before your child begins to crawl, get down on his level and look for dangerous items. If you have older children, pay extra attention to their toys and be sure your younger child can't get into them. In addition to thoroughly childproofing your home, keep this list of choking prevention tips in mind:

Gun Safety

Between 1994 and 1998, 6,287 children committed suicide with a firearm and an additional 1,896 children were killed by unintentional gun injuries in the United States. All together, 23,776 children under age 19 died from a gun related injury during these years, which is equal to 13 children a day.

Vincent Iannelli, M.D., Pediatrics.com (2006)

Having a gun in your home, especially if it is not stored properly, can be a significant risk factor for injury and death in children. Proper storage of a gun is the most effective way to reduce the incidence of unintentional injuries. 

To properly store guns:

• Keep the gun in a gun safe, lock box, or a locked cabinet or drawer.
• Store the gun unloaded with the bullets locked up separately.
• Never store a gun in a shoebox on the top shelf of a closet or under the mattress or somewhere elsewhere your child 'would never look for it. Children are naturally curious and if a gun is not stored properly, there is a good chance that a child may find it and injure himself or someone else.
• Use a gunlock or trigger lock.
• Restrict your children’s access to the keys used to lock your guns and bullets.

Educate your children about firearm safety in case they discover a gun outside the home or in the homes of their friends.

They should know the 4 steps of the Eddie Eagle gun safety program, including:

Stop!
Don't Touch.
Leave the Area.
Tell an Adult.