HSC: Families Not Doing Enough to Prevent Home Poison Dangers
A new survey by the nonprofit Home Safety Council found that only one percent of U.S. adults think poisoning is a leading home safety concern. In fact, according to HSC, accidental poisoning is the nation's second leading cause of home injury death.
HSC commissioned the nationwide Safe Haven survey to gauge the public's perceptions and actions related to the top home injury dangers. Poison-related findings also showed that less that one-fifth (18 percent) of U.S. adults have put safety locks on cabinets or have posted the Poison Control Help number near phones--two of the key actions recommended by the Council to reduce the risk and severity of poisoning injuries.
"Perhaps the most important finding from the Safe Haven research is that parents and other caregivers aren't doing nearly enough to protect themselves and their families from serious home poison dangers," said Dr. Angela Mickalide, HSC Director of Education and Outreach. "Poison Prevention Month is a helpful reminder for all of us to take action against this major health problem."
The most critical actions HSC recommends taking are to: read product labels and lock away those with the words "Caution," "Warning," or "Danger" on the label; keep dangerous products away from food and drinks; properly use and maintain fueled appliances; install a Carbon Monoxide alarm near sleeping areas; and put the Poison Control Help number (1-800-222-1222) and other emergency numbers next to every phone and store them in cell phones directories. For more information and poison prevention tips, including strategies for each room of the home, visit www.homesafetycouncil.org or www.1-800-222-1222.info/.