FOR MORE INFORMATION
poison.org: Get Poison Help Online or by Phone
poison.org: Button Battery Help
nabp: Safe Medication Disposal Sites-Just Enter Your Zip Code
healthychildren.org: Poison Prevention
healthychildren.org: E-Cigarettes & Vaping
Poison Safety
Young children and senior citizens are at the greatest risk of being poisoned. More than half of all poisonings happen to children ages 5 and under. Follow these safety tips to help keep everyone in home your safe from poisoning.
Buy and keep all medicines in bottles with safety caps. These caps are made to be "child resistant", but they are not "child proof". Close bottles tightly and store them locked up and out of reach. Throw away empty bottles. Find a place in your community to turn in all medications that you no longer need.
Cleaning products and other poisonous items should be kept out of a child's reach. Lock them up to help prevent kids from getting to them. Do not use cleaning products or other poisons around children. Always follow the directions when using medicine and cleaning products.
Teach your child to ask an adult before eating or drinking anything. Some household cleaners or medicines "look like" foods or drinks. Kids can swallow them and get poisoned. Do not take medicine in front of children and never call it "candy".
Know the names of plants, trees, and flowers in and around your home in case of poisoning.
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors help alert you to poison risks. Install them in all sleeping areas and on all levels of your home.
Smoking is harmful to everyone's health. Cigarette products like e-cigarettes and vapes can be poisonious. Some of these products come in flavors that may taste nice, but they are dangerous when swallowed. If you smoke, lock up smoking items safely away from young children and teenagers. Avoid smoking or vaping around kids and teens.
If you think someone may been poisoned, do not wait for them to get sick.
Call the National Poison Center:
--1-800-222-1222
--Chat live with them at poison.org
--Chat live on the POISONCONTROL® Poison App
They are available 24/7 to answer your questions and tell you how to help the person quickly.
Keep items that use button batteries out of reach as they can cause serious injury or death if swallowed. Call the 24-hour National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 1-800-498-8666. The hotline will answer your questions and tell you how to help the person quickly.
Never throw medications or needles away in the trash. Call your local pharmacy, doctor's office, or health department to find places near you where you can safely dispose of them.
Do you have questions on posion or medication safety?
Call our FREE Safety Store Helpline at 317-274-6565. You can talk live with our staff Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM about your safety questions.