Brevard County Health Department Take Steps To Prevent Poisonings In Your Home
By Space Coast Daily // March 19, 2017
National Poison Prevention Week
BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – During the 56th National Poison Prevention Week, celebrated March 19-25 this year, the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County is sharing tips to ensure the safety of homes and communities and help prevent poisonings.
In 2016, nearly 38,000 poison exposure calls reported in Florida were regarding children age 5 and under.
Poisonings are completely preventable and it is every adult’s responsibility to keep children safe from harmful exposure to medications and chemicals around the home.
Florida’s Poison Control Centers handled 146,664 incoming calls during 2016. Poisonings can happen quickly and it is important to know how to prevent poisoning and what to do in case you or your children consume a potentially dangerous product. Always keep the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222 visibly posted in your home or classroom in case of an emergency.
Related Story:Florida Department of Health In Brevard Promotes Healthy Eating During National Nutrition Month
The Florida Poison Information Center Network recommends the following tips for poison prevention:
- Install safety latches on cabinets and drawers;
- Keep all medicines, cleaning supplies and chemicals out of site and reach of children;
- Try to purchase products with child-proof packaging when available;
- Keep products in their original packaging, do not store them in food containers;
- Always read product labels and follow directions exactly; and
- Do not call medicine “candy” when giving it to children.
The Poison Help Line is free, confidential and multilingual and automatically directs the caller to the poison control center covering their geographic area.
Download the poison patrol checklist to help identify and safely store household poisons to keep your family safe and healthy.
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