Most Poisoning can be Prevented

Page 20

About 95 percent of all unintentional poisonings can be prevented. 

Methods of prevention include modification of the environment, education and supervision for change of behaviors.

Modification of Environment

​Educators should make a room-by-room inspection and evaluate the area for potential poisons in the environment. Removing all hazards and risks for exposure to poisons provides a protected environment. Poisons should be kept out of sight and reach of children, and in a locked cabinet.

​Remember what good climbers children can be! Parents and teachers should always put their purses, diaper bags, backpacks, etc. out of reach of the children. Create a special place for parents to place their items when they are just there for a short period.   

Supervision

Remember that no area is 100 percent safe. Good safety practices and supervision help prevent accidents involving poisoning. Adult supervision is the number one method of preventing poisonings among small children. Discourage children from mouthing paint brushes, crayons or other objects and materials. Never call medicine “candy.”  

Education 

Teach poison prevention to children and staff. Teach children never to put anything other than clean food into their mouths.  

Be prepared

Children act fast, and so do poisons. Even when people are very careful, poisoning exposures can occur. It is important to be prepared before something happens:

1. Attach the phone number of the Poison Center to the telephone (call 800-222-1222).
2. If a poisoning occurs, do not panic. Do not follow the first-aid procedures recommended on the product as they may be incorrect. If the child is in obvious distress, call 9-1-1 for help. Otherwise, call the Poison Center for advice and document the incident and your actions. Call the parent. 

Course Navigation Menu

1. Course Agenda
2. Health and Safety​
3. Preventing Injuries
4. ​Safety Regulations (1/11)
5. Hazards (2/11)
6. Risk of Injury
7. Developmental Age (3/11)
8. Safety Policies​
9. Safe or Unsafe (4/11)​
10. Hazard Analysis (5/11)​
11. ​Supervise the Children

12. Staff Ratios (6/11)
13. ​Regular Safety Checks
14. Burns and Fire
15. Burn and Fire Prevention
16. Hot Liquid Burns (7/11)
17. ​Strangulation & Suffocation
18. Falls
19. Poisoning
20. Poisoning can be Prevented
21. ​Drowning
22. ​Emergency Procedures

​23. Emergency Experiences (8/11)
​24. First Aid
25. Minor Injuries (9/11)
26. Disaster Preparedness
27. Emergency Preparedness (10/11)
28. Missing Child
29. Authorized Persons
30. After the Emergency
31. End of Course Quiz (11/11)
32. Evaluation Form
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