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RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK
Release Date: 03/11/2002
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2002
RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK
David Deegan 202-564-7839 / deegan.dave@epa.gov
David Deegan 202-564-7839 / deegan.dave@epa.gov
A new national toll-free hotline number to reach a poison control center from anywhere in the United States has been established, at 1-800-222-1222. In commemoration of National Poison Prevention Week, Mar. 17-23, EPA is making available several resources to educate the public about ways to prevent children from being poisoned by pesticides and household products. First authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Kennedy in 1961, National Poison Prevention Week is an annual event intended for local communities to raise awareness of dangers of unintentional poisonings and to promote prevention measures. EPA has supported this effort for several years, and has several resources available to parents and community organizations to help inform people about potential dangers found in homes.
“Learn About Chemicals Around Your House” is an interactive web site
(see: https://www.epa.gov/opptintr/kids/hometour/index.htm) designed to teach children and parents about household products, including pesticides, that may contain harmful chemicals. The web site includes information about toxic substances stored in different rooms in the house and answers commonly asked questions on safe use and storage of these products. The site also contains educational games, and tells children what to do if an accident occurs.
A second resource is called “Read the Label First! Protect Your Kids,” which is a brochure that provides information on preventing children from being exposed to pesticides and household cleaners by reading and following product label instructions and precautions, keeping products in their original containers and storing products out of the reach of children. This document is available online at: https://www.epa.gov/opptintr/labeling/rtlf/kids.pdf.
“Ten Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings Around the Home” is a brochure that provides simple steps to protect children from pesticide and lead poisonings around the home, and is available in both English and Spanish. This document is available at: https://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/10_tips/.
“Pesticides and Child Safety” is a fact sheet that provides current household pesticide-related poisonings/exposure statistics from the American Association of Poison Control Centers, as well as recommendations for preventing poisonings and first aid guidelines. This document is available at: http://epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/childsaf.htm.
Finally, “Help! It’s A Roach” is a roach prevention activity book for kids and parents. It teaches families what they can do to prevent and control roaches without using pesticides. An interactive web site is also available at: https://www.epa.gov/opp00001/kids/roaches/english/. All of these resources are also available by calling
1-800-490-9198. More information on Poison Prevention Week is also available at the Poison Prevention Week Council’s web site at: : http://www.poisonprevention.org/.
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