A poison is any substance that is harmful to your body if too much is eaten, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin. Any substance can be poisonous if too much is taken. Nearly 82 people die of accidental poisoning every day in the United States. Another 1,941 are treated in emergency departments, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In 2007, ninety-seven percent of unintentional poisoning deaths were caused by prescription medicine.
So what can you do to protect your families?
Install a lock on your medicine cabinet. Almost all accidental poisoning deaths are caused by a medication overdose.
Dispose of all old or unused prescriptions by taking them to a pharmacy or other official medication disposal location.
Know the things in your home that can be poisonous.
In life threatening situations, always call 911 immediately.
Memorize the poison control hotline (1-800-222-1222), and keep it by every phone.
Store all cleaning supplies far away from food in a cabinet with a childproof lock on it.
Carbon monoxide is a quick and silent killer. Make sure to have your home heating system inspected regularly and install a carbon monoxide alarm near every sleeping area.
