“National Poison Prevention Awareness Week” – ACS Hosting Fairs For Parents To Share Information About Risks, Symptoms Of Poisoning In Kids: Lock Boxes For Safe Storage Of Medicines, Batteries, Other Household Items

DURING “NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK,” NYC ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES TO HOST RESOURCE FAIRS FOR FAMILIES; PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE FREE LOCK BOXES TO KEEP MEDICINES, CANNABIS-INFUSED EDIBLES, & POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AWAY FROM CHILDREN

Resource Fairs in Queens and Brooklyn Will Share Information About the Risks & Symptoms of Poisoning in Children & Provide Guidance on How to Safely Store Medicines, Cannabis-Infused Products, Batteries & Other Potential Household Poisons Away from Children

Editor’s note: According to the National Poison Control Centers, “While children younger than six years comprise a disproportionate percentage of the cases, poisoning affects ALL age groups, from infants to seniors. Peak poisoning frequency occurs in one- and two-year-olds, but poisonings in teens and adults are more serious. Notice that the greater proportion of males in poison exposures occurring in children younger than 13 years switches to a female predominance in teens and adults.

In 2021, across all ages, there were 627 poison exposures reported per 100,000 population. The highest incidence occurred in one- and two-year-olds, with 6,439 and 5,997 exposures/100,000 children in the respective age groups. For teens, 640 exposures per 100,000 population were reported.”

NEW YORK, NY – In recognition of “National Poison Prevention Awareness Week,” the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Office of Child Safety and Injury Prevention will be hosting resource fairs to guide families about how to safely store medicines, cannabis-infused products, button batteries and other potential household poisons, and what to do if you know or suspect a child has been exposed. Free lock boxes will be provided to families.

The events will take place on Tuesday, March 19^th, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at The Women’s Pavilion at Elmhurst Hospital, 78-20 41st Avenue, Queens, and on Saturday, March 23^rd from 11:00AM to 2:00 PM at Life of Hope Center, 1377 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn.

“As every parent can attest, children are very curious about their environments and seem to get into everything.  It is an amazing part of their development and, at the same, a challenge for their parents and caregivers to keep them safe from unintentional injuries,” said ACS Commissioner Jess Dannhauser. “So, in recognition of National Poison Prevention Week, ACS is sharing critical information and tangible tools with parents and caregivers to ensure medications and potentially dangerous household items are stored out of children’s reach.”

“As the city’s doctor – and more importantly as a parent — I want all of our kids to be safe from items in their home that pose a danger,” said Health Department Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Caretakers must keep their medicine and cannabis products stored safely in lock boxes or other storage devices and out of sight from children. Adults should utilize NYC Poison Center for advice if a child has accidentally ingested cannabis. I want to thank my colleagues at the Administration for Children’s Services for making resources available to families.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 60,000 children go to the emergency room every year after getting into medicines. Parents should ensure all prescription medications are stored out of sight and out of reach of children, make sure medications have child-proof lids, and educate children about medicines and why a parent, caregiver or a trusted adult must be the one to give it to them. Never tell children medicines tastes like candy or gum to get them to take it. In the event of accidental swallowing, call the NYC Poison Center and, in case of emergency, call 911 immediately.

The ACS Office of Child Safety and Injury Prevention supports ongoing work to keep children safe through public awareness campaigns, trainings, and concrete support around injury prevention. This work includes promoting safe storage of prescription medications, potentially dangerous household items and, most recently, unintentional ingestion of cannabis-infused edibles, which can look identical to desserts and sugary snacks like candies and chocolate bars. Parents should know the importance of storing these items ‘up and away’ and out of sight and out of reach of children.

For more information contact the NYC Poison Center at 212-POISONS (212-764-7667).

Banner Image: Poison. Image Credit – qimono