Tips and Resources to Help Keep Your Child Safe

Brought to you by First 5 Sacramento 

Each year, about 91,000 children suffer from accidental poisoning. While the majority of these cases are not fatal, they are avoidable. Knowing basic types of household poisons, and where they can be found in your home, is the first step to poison prevention. First 5 Sacramento provides the following information to raise awareness and to provide resources about this important issue.

Poison Comes in Many Forms

To help you determine the types of poisons present in your own home, the following list includes four primary forms of poison and provides some examples of each:

  • Liquid. Liquid medications and cleaning supplies such as bleach and laundry detergent are harmful if a child swallows them.
  • Solid. Medications in pill form can be toxic if a child swallows or chews them. Other common household items, such as soap, are hazardous to children if eaten.
  • Spray. Many cleaning products, such as all-purpose cleaners, come in spray bottles. Perfumes and pesticides can also be dangerous to a child.
  • Invisible. Lead and carbon monoxide are examples of invisible poisons that are common health hazards. Lead is found in dust from lead-based paint as well as in some toys. Carbon monoxide is emitted from cars, gas ovens and space heaters. To help reduce these poisons, make sure your home always gets enough fresh air. Also, consider installing a low-cost carbon monoxide detector that signals when levels are too high.

Danger Zones in Your Home

To safeguard your child against potential poisoning, start by focusing on a few important rooms in your home. Remember that most items are best kept out of sight and reach of your child.

  • Kitchen/Laundry Room. Keep household cleaners like dishwasher soap, detergent and oven cleaners in a cabinet with child-proof locks. If you store them in a cupboard, make sure they are high enough that children cannot reach them.
  • Bathroom. Cabinets and drawers may contain products like medication, vitamins, hair products, rubbing alcohol, and even nail polish that can be dangerous to children. Put them in the medicine cabinet only if it is out of reach. Otherwise, lock them in a cabinet or drawer.
  • Bedroom. Clear nightstand of medications or creams. Be cautious of where you leave your purse since it may contain many items that can be harmful to children if eaten, including cosmetics, lotions, and medications. Also, be aware of your child’s toys since some may contain lead as well.
  • Garden. Many household and outdoor plants, as well as fertilizer and pesticides, can be poisonous. Keep plants above reach, and teach your child not to put plants in his or her mouth. Always look for plants that are not harmful like herbs. And after applying fertilizer, water and dry the lawn completely before letting your child play on the grass.

Resources Available to Help

Keep these resources nearby to help in the event of an accidental poisoning.

  • California Poison Action Line. If a child is not breathing after ingesting poison, call 911. If the child is alert, call the California Poison Action Line at 1-800-222-1222. Have as much information as possible available, like the name of the product and time of poisoning.
  • Environmental Protection Agency. To learn about how to test your home for lead, call 1-800-424-LEAD or visit online at www.epa.gov/lead .
  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Call 1-800-638-2772 or visit online at www.cpsc.gov to get a list of toys that have been recalled due to lead and other hazards.

First 5 Sacramento encourages all parents to keep their children safe at home, and never underestimate their interest in many areas of the house. For more information on parenting resources or other First 5 Sacramento programs, call 916-876-5865 or visit www.first5sacramento.net. 

About First 5 Sacramento

Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years and what parents and caregivers do during these years to support their child’s growth will have a meaningful impact throughout life.  Based on this research, California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on tobacco products to support programs for expectant parents and children ages zero to five.  In the last year, First 5 Sacramento distributed approximately $14 million a year in Prop 10 revenues to programs and services that meet local needs. Each county has a First 5 Children and Families Commission providing unique local services for that county. Surrounding First 5’s include: First 5 Yolo: 530-669-2475; First 5 Placer: 530-745-1304; and First 5 El Dorado: 530-672-8298.