Prevent Poisonings: Lock Up Pesticides

(Washington, D.C. - March 16, 2009) E.P.A. is observing Countrywide Poison Prevention Week March 15-21 to increase awareness of the danger to children of unintentional exposures from pesticides and household products. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to lock up products that could potentially harm children.

These simple steps can help prevent poisonings:

• Store household products in a locked cabinet or shed away from children and pets.
• Read the product label 1st and follow directions to the letter.
• Never leave products unattended when you are using them.
• Never transfer pesticides to other containers.

Every 13 seconds, U.S. poison control centers gain a call about someone being exposed to a poison. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that in excess of 50 percent of the two million exposure incidents each year involve children younger than 6 years old. In 2007, poison centers reported receiving in excess of 70,000 calls concerning about potential exposures to common household pesticides (potential exposures do not necessarily represent a poisoning).

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

More information on poison prevention: epa.gov/pesticides/health/poisonprevention.htm

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