NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

CPSC Urges Public Participation During National Poison Prevention Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Mar. 16) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today urged all consumers to actively participate in National Poison Prevention Week, March 20-26, 1977, by making certain that all toxic household substances are far from the reach of children and that medications are kept in their child-resistant containers.

Each year thousands of children are accidentally poisoned through ingestion of improperly packaged and stored household substances. The majority of poisonings occur in children under five years of age who cannot distinguish between candy and pills, or between soda and furniture polish.

CPSC administers the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), which requires a number of household substances to be sold in child-resistant packaging. In the three years since aspirin products were first required to be packaged with child- resistant caps, deaths from aspirin poisoning among children under five dropped 63% and accidental ingestions dropped 47%.

For the elderly and the handicapped who have difficulty opening child-resistant containers, regulated products can be packaged in one non-complying size provided its label states that it is not recommended for use in households with young children and provided the product is also available in safety closure packages. Prescription b drugs also are available in non-child-resistant packaging upon the specific request of the patient or the prescribing physician.

National Poison Prevention Week, proclaimed by President Carter, is a combined effort to stimulate awareness in local communities of the dangers of accidental poisonings and to encourage action toward prevention of these poisonings. CPSC is a co-sponsor of this program, together with 28 other professional and trade associations, health and safety organizations, youth-oriented service groups, medical, dental, nursing, pharmaceutical groups, and governmental agencies.

Simple effective consumer tips for eliminating the hazards of accidental poisonings are:

• Store kitchen and cleaning products such as detergents, disinfectants and drain cleaners on top shelves of cabinets. Always use the safety caps. If possible, put a lock on the storage space.
• Do not store food and cleaning products together.
• Keep cleaners, detergents and disinfectants in their original containers.
• Keep all medicines out of the reach of children or in a locked box. Use child-resistant containers when the medicine is packaged in them, and be sure to resecure the caps after each use.
• Clear the garage and basement of gasoline, gardening weed killers, pesticides, lighter fluids, and other toxic substances. Store them under lock and key and make sure that the safety closures, where supplied, are on right.
• Listen and watch for "Safety Sadie" on your favorite local radio stations and TV programs. CPSC has chosen "Safety Sadie" to be its live symbol for poison prevention throughout the year.
• Take a tip from "Safety Sadie" -- POISON PROOF your home. For a free booklet, write to SAFETY SADIE, Washington, D.C. 20207.

For additional information on prevention of accidental poisonings, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free Hotline: 800/638-2772.