Poison Prevention Week kicks off with safety tips - WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va
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More than 600,000 kids under age 5 are treated in emergency rooms for accidental exposure or overdose every year, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.
It's a message being pushed today as we enter Poison Prevention Week. Safe Kids Southwest Virginia says it's a good time to make sure you have the number for the Poison Center saved into your phone and get one of its red and white magnets to put on your refrigerator if you don't already have one in case you ever need it.
The toll free number for poison control is 1-800-222-1222.
The organization is also reminding parents, grandparents and anyone with small children in the home to avoid leaving household items in low, unlocked cabinets and to put medicines out of reach. "If you're giving them medication," explained Jill Lucas-Drakeford, "Even if you have to re-dose them later or in a few hours, always put that medication up and away. We prefer it to be in a locked cabinet."
Lucas-Drakeford also recommends that you not tell your child his medicine is candy in order to get him to take it. It will help keep him from mistaking medicine for sweets.
Click here for more tips on poison prevention.
The Tdap vaccine protects against Pertussis or Whooping Cough and anyone who is 19 or older or going through pregnancy needs to have the booster in order to prevent the spread.
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