Health Department Reminds Parents to Keep Common Poisons Away From Children

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About 90% of poisonings occur in the home. "Common household products can be dangerous to children," said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Health Commissioner for New York City. "Make sure you keep cleaners, medicines, and cosmetics out of the reach of children and locked in cabinets; whenever possible. If your child is exposed to something potentially toxic, call 212-POISONS right away for help."

"Poisonings in the home are preventable," said Dr. Robert Hoffman, Director of the New York City Poison Control Center. "If you are unsure if a product could be hazardous, lock it up or put it out of reach to be safe. And if you have a question about a product or label, call Poison Control for more information."

Interviews and focus groups conducted in 2006 with caregivers of young children in these communities suggested that some parents are not familiar with the Poison Control Center and that some feared that no one could speak their language if they called. Others said they did not call because they did not want to be perceived as a bad parent. The Health Department has worked to get the word out that Poison Control services are confidential and non-judgmental. They are available in Spanish, Chinese, as well as many other languages.

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Health Department Reminds Parents to Keep Common Poisons Away From Children

Common household products such as perfume or mouthwash are the source of about one in four poisonings in children under five in New York City. To mark National Poison Prevention Week, which is this week, the He...

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