A. Public Law 87-319 authorizes the President to designate annually the third week in March as National Poison Prevention Week. This act of Congress was signed into law on September 16, 1961, by President John F. Kennedy, after which the Poison Prevention Week Council was organized to coordinate this annual event. Congress intended this event as a means for local communities to raise awareness of the dangers of accidental poisoning and to take preventative measures as warranted.
One - two and three year olds get into poisons most often. They move quickly onto counters, into purses, and under sinks. Buy products with child resistant caps and always close them tightly after each use. Place child resistant latches on cabinets which contain poisons.
If a child does ingest a poisonous substance, call your poison control center immediately or 911 or 0 for the operator. Post emergency numbers on or near all of your phones. Have the label of the ingested substance in hand when you call.
NEVER refer to any medicine as candy. Always use their proper name.
