John F. Kennedy, who proclaimed National Poison Prevention Week in early 1962, together with his son, John F. Kennedy, Jr. National Poison Prevention Week is particularly concerned with preventing the poisoning of children, who are the major victims of poisoning.
On September 26, 1961, the 87th United States Congress passed a joint resolution (Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States)87–319) requesting that the President of the United States proclaim the third week of March National Poison Prevention Week.[1] On February 7, 1962, President John F. Kennedy responded to this request and proclaimed the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week.[1] The first National Poison Prevention Week was therefore observed in March 1962.
More than two million potential poison exposures are reported every year to American poison control centers.[2] More than 90% of these poisoning occur in the home, and a majority of these occur with children five years of age and younger.[3]
Though calls regarding children still make up more than half of all calls to poison control centers, they only account for a small percent of the deaths due to poisoning. Poisoning of adults is on the rise in our nation and only stands behind motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths.[4]
Over 1000 Americans die from poisoning every year.[5]
The American Association of Poison Control Centers, representing the poison control center network of the United States, offers the following poison prevention tips:
If you think someone has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222 right away. Serious poisonings don't always have early signs.
Put the number for your poison control center (1-800-222-1222) in your cell phone and near home phones.
Keep medicines and household products in their original containers in a different place than food.
Always read product labels and follow any directions.
Keep household products and medicines locked up. Put them where kids can't see them or reach them.
Buy products with child-resistant packaging. But remember, nothing is child-proof.
Never call medicine "candy." Poisons may look like food or drink. Teach children to ask an adult before tasting anything.
Learn about products and drugs that young people use to get "high." Talk to your teen or pre-teen about these dangers.
Have a working carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach your local poison control center, anywhere in the United States. The call is free, private, 24/7/365, and expert help is available in more than 150 languages.
^American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) National Poison Data System (NPDS)
^American Association of Poison Control Centers National Poison Data System (NPDS) Annual Report
^American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) National Poison Data System (NPDS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQUARS).
(federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific racial/ethnic grouporsexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies
