Play It Safe, Prevent Poisonings, Lock Up Pesticides

(Washington, D.C. - March 17, 2008) Every 13 seconds, a U.S. poison control center gains a call about an unintentional poisoning. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that in excess of 50 percent of the 2 million poisoning incidents each year involve children younger than 6 years old. In 2006, poison centers reported in excess of 77,000 calls made to poison centers with concerns about potential exposure to common household pesticides (potential exposures do not necessarily represent a poisoning).

The E.P.A. (EPA) observes Countrywide Poison Prevention Week each year to increase awareness of the danger to children of unintentional poisonings from pesticides and household products, and to encourage parents and caregivers to lock up products that could potentially harm children.

In observance of Countrywide Poison Prevention Week (March 16-22), E.P.A. has launched a poison-prevention segment on Green Scene, EPA's new series of environmental videos. During an interview on Green Scene, Assistant Administrator Jim Gulliford, of the Office of Prevention Pesticides and Toxic Substances, discusses Poison Prevention Week, how to protect your children from toxic substances around the home and how to respond in case of accidental poisoning.

E.P.A. is also conducting extensive outreach targeting the Hispanic communities, including television interviews to be aired on "Cada Dia," Telemundo's Countrywide morning plan and the Telemundo Washington affiliate in DC. Other interviews include Univision TV and Radio and CNN Radio en Espanol.

Link to Green Scene Podcast: http://www.epa.gov

EPA's Poison Prevention Web location: epa.gov/pesticides/health/poisonprevention.htm

The Countrywide Poison Center hotline is 1-800-222-1222.

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