Poison Prevention

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Safety Resources
National Poison Prevention Week 2010 Educational Materials

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Tell others about your poison prevention or lead poison prevention program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a poison as any substance that is harmful to your body when ingested (eaten), inhaled (breathed), injected, or absorbed through the skin. Any substance can be poisonous if enough is taken. This does not include adverse reactions to medications taken correctly (CDC Fact Sheet, 2008).

In 2006, California reported 30 cases of poisoning fatalities and 1,193 cases of nonfatal hospitalized injuries among children under the age of 18. Given young children's natural curiosity about their environment and their developmental propensity to put things in their mouths, they are at greatest risk of unintentional poisoning. Alternatively, unintentional poison exposures were reported as frequently as intentional poison exposures in adolescents between the ages of 13 to 19. 

Roughly 90 percent of all poisonings occur in and around the home. Many popular household items, such as cleaning products, cosmetics, or pesticides can cause a poisonous reaction. Kitchens, bathrooms, and garages are common storing locations for many toxic chemicals or other poisonous products. Nearly 7 in 10 households with young children store household chemicals in unlocked places.

Lead Poisoning Prevention

Another serious cause of injury-related hospitalizations and fatalities is lead poisoning. Lead poisoning can be caused by children’s inhalation or ingestion of lead. Childhood lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities and developmental delays.

For more information on poison prevention and lead poisoning prevention, please visit:

->California Programs
->National Programs
->International Programs
->Related Materials and Publications
->Best, Good, and Promising Practices
->California Laws and Regulations

 

California Programs

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National Programs

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International Programs

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Related Materials and Publications

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Best, Good, and Promising Practices for Poison Prevention

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California Laws and Regulations

The following links provides a brief description of relevant laws and regulations. For more information click on the provided link which will take you to leginfo.ca.gov, select the appropriate code type, enter the code number, and press search.

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