Protect Children From Accidental Poisoning 3/21/05

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Vitamin supplements seem healthy, but can be dangerous when in the wrong hands, said Mike Bradshaw, Kansas State University Research and Extension safety specialist.

Death Rate Drops

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- National Poison Prevention Week, March 20-26 this year, was initiated by President John F. Kennedy.

“Calling attention to potentially hazardous substances and encouraging immediate – and appropriate responses – has saved lives,” said Mike Bradshaw, Kansas State University Research and Extension safety specialist.

“The death rate from accidental poisoning for children has dropped from 450 in 1962 to about 30 in recent years,” Bradshaw said.

For more information on poison prevention, contact the local K-State Research and Extension office or visit Extension’s Web site: www.oznet.ksu.edu.

Children watching parents or grandparents take the supplements may mimic the adults and do the same – or mistake them for candy and eat several. Either can be toxic, Bradshaw said.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that supplements containing iron are the number one cause of fatal poisoning in children ages three and under, he said.

Poison control centers in the United States report about one million telephone calls annually from adults seeking help with children who have swallowed potentially harmful substances. About 30 children in the United States under the age of five die from accidental poisoning annually, Bradshaw said.

Antidepressants also can be dangerous, said Bradshaw, who offered these tips for parents and others with children in the household:

* Close containers promptly after each use, rather than setting aside an open container while answering the telephone or doorbell.

* Childproof your home. Lock vitamin and mineral supplements, medications and household products out of sight -- and reach -- of children.

* Post the poison control center number – 1-800-222-1222 – where it will be readily available.

“Timing, is, as they say, everything. If you suspect that a child has come in contact with – or consumed – a hazardous substance, call the Poison Control Center immediately,” Bradshaw said. “The 800-number rings to a poison control toxicologist who will ask the victim’s age, weight, existing health conditions and details about the substance and exposure to it.

General First Aid Guidelines

* Swallowed poison. Induce vomiting ONLY if emergency personnel on the telephone tell you to do so. It will depend on what the child has swallowed; some petroleum products or caustic poisons will cause more damage if the child is made to vomit.

* Poison in the eye. Eye membranes absorb pesticides faster than any other external part of the body; eye damage can occur in a few minutes with some types of pesticides. If poison splashes into an eye, hold the eyelid open and wash quickly and gently with clean running water from the tap or a gentle stream from a hose for at least 15 minutes. If possible, have someone else contact a Poison Control Center while the victim is being treated. Do not use eye drops, chemicals or drugs in the wash water.

*Poison on the skin. If pesticide splashes on the skin, drench the area with water and remove contaminated clothing. Wash skin and hair thoroughly with soap and water. Later, discard contaminated clothing or thoroughly wash it separately from other laundry.

* Inhaled poison. Carry or drag victim to fresh air immediately. If you think you need protection such as a respirator and one is not available to you, call the fire department and wait for emergency equipment before entering the area. Loosen victim’s tight clothing. If the victim’s skin is blue or the victim has stopped breathing, give artificial respiration (if you know how) and call the rescue service for help. Open doors and windows to prevent others from being poisoned.

Additional pesticide product information can be obtained from the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at 1-800-858-7378. NPIC is a toll-free information service operated seven days a week, from 6:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Source: EPA, Mike Bradshaw,
K-State Research and Extension.

If a child is unconscious, having difficulty breathing or convulsions, follow first aid guidelines and call 911 or the local emergency service immediately, Bradshaw said.

* Read labels and warnings when buying and using household products such as paint, paint thinner, glue, art supplies, insect repellent, and cleaning, lawn, garden and pet products.

“Seemingly safe household products, like an extra bottle of windshield washer fluid, mouthwash or cologne, may seem a colorful beverage to a child,” he said. If mouthwash or cologne contains alcohol, a child who ingests it may suffer seizures, a coma or death.”

* Keep pills and hazardous substances in their original containers with identifying labels.

“Kitchens and bathrooms typically offer the most potential hazards, but garages and utility rooms can be hazardous as well,” Bradshaw said.

* Do homework before selecting house or other landscape or garden plants. If ingested, a daffodil bulb may be toxic. Leaves and flowers of Lily-of-the-Valley may cause an irregular heartbeat and pulse, digestive upset and mental confusion, and consuming the leaf blade of rhubarb can cause convulsions, coma, followed rapidly by death. For a listing of poisonous plants, check: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/poison/poison.html.

For more information about chemicals in the home, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers “Learn About Chemicals Around Your House” at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/kids/hometour/tour.htm. The Web site is recommended for children ages nine and older, parents and teachers. Additional information is available at K-State Research and Extension offices throughout the state.

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.