Next week, the River Cities Safe Kids Coalition will urge parents, grandparents, babysitters and other caregivers to eliminate a hidden danger in their homes – poisons.

Wednesday, March 15, 2000

Next week, the River Cities Safe Kids Coalition will urge parents, grandparents, babysitters and other caregivers to eliminate a hidden danger in their homes – poisons.

Child poisoning is a hazard often overlooked.

Commonly used products such as cosmetics, detergents and medicines can be fatal to young children if left within their reach. Even innocent-looking items like household plants and vitamin supplements can poison a child in less than a minute.

Annually, more than 1.1 million unintentional poisonings among children ages 5 and younger are reported to U.S. poison control centers. In 1997, more than 80 children ages 14 and younger died.

During National Poison Prevention Week next week, and throughout the year, eliminate the hidden danger by simply locking poisonous products out of a child’s reach.

First, find out which household products are dangerous. Then, lock them away using cabinets with safety locks. And one of the best ways to "poison proof" your home is to get down on the floor to view your surroundings from a child’s perspective.

Eliminate the danger. Save a child.

For more information, contact the Central Ohio Poison Center at 1-800-682-7628. Or, visit the coalition’s Web site at www.safekids.org