WHO: The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) provides the country with expert, 24/7, free services through the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 and PoisonHelp.org.
WHAT: Annually, the third full week in March is National Poison Prevention Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness to poison control centers. Poison Centers help people of all ages every single day.
To keep children safe in the home, Mary Washington Healthcare along with AAPCC recommends installing safety latches on cabinets used for medicines and household products, ensure children can’t use chairs or stack items to climb to products stored out of their reach, re-close medicines, and other household products if interrupted during use. Many incidents happen when adults are distracted when using these products (e.g., by the telephone or the doorbell). Buy products in child-resistant packaging whenever possible and remember to close the container tightly after each use.
For older adults, it’s suggested that medications are not taken in the dark. Always use adequate lighting when reading prescription labels to prevent taking the wrong medication. Wear glasses or contact lenses when taking medication to ensure dosing accuracy. Ask your physician or pharmacist any questions that you have regarding your prescriptions or over-the-counter products.
Text POISON to 797979 to add Poison Control as a contact in your mobile device. Be prepared anytime and anywhere with #PoisonHelp.
WHEN: March 20-26, 2022
For additional information, contact:
Yasmine Harding, American Association of Poison Control Centers by phone at 703.894.1865 or by email, [email protected]. Website: aapcc.org | #preventpoison | #NPPW22
