Poisoning claims the lives of almost 4,000 Canadians annually and ranks third among unintentional injury hospital admissions for children in Canada under the age of 14.
In 2020, over 215,000 calls were made to poison centres across Canada; of those calls, over one-third involved children under the age of six.
Tips to Prevent Unintentional Poisoning
Medications
Read all medicine labels, take only the prescribed dosage, and be mindful of any potential adverse effects or drug combinations to avoid accidental drug poisoning. If you’re worried about any of the prescriptions you’re taking, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
The most common cause of poisoning in children is medication.
Young ones use their tongues to investigate the world around them. Always keep medication packets, pill bottles, and syrup bottles locked up high, out of children’s reach. Keep all prescription drugs in their original, child-proof packaging.
Some medications are legally obliged to be packaged in a child-resistant manner. It lessens the possibility that your child will be poisoned. Even so, a fraction of these children are still able to open medication containers.
Never call medication “candy.”
Take additional caution when giving your child medicine that taste delicious, like chewable vitamins and syrups with fruit flavours.
Maintain your prescription drugs in their original, labelled container along with the insert that provides the necessary dosage and other medication details. And every time you give or take medication, make sure to always read the label and verify the dosage.
Make sure guests don’t put their handbags or bags within your child’s reach when they visit your house. It’s possible for guests to carry potentially hazardous items like vitamins, medicine, cosmetics, or cannabis products. Just as you would with your own belongings, keep theirs out of your child’s reach.
Additional items that may cause poisoning
- antifreeze for the car
- vitamins and other supplements
- household disinfectants, such bleach
- laundry detergent, which include single-dose packets
- Items for personal hygiene, such toothpaste or nail colour
- auto supplies, like windshield washer fluid
- liquor
- cannabis-infused edibles
- illicit substances, such as opiates
- insecticides
- some plants
Numerous children have consumed toxic products because grown-ups failed to store these properly or they switched them out of their original containers. Ensure that all possible toxic materials are kept high, hidden, and inaccessible to children.
Your toddler can reach and open cabinets with more ease as they get older and become more active. Turn your house into a poison-free zone by keeping all possible poisons in high-up cabinets, drawers, or cupboards that are locked with a key hidden somewhere, or with a latch that a child cannot reach.
Canada has a toll-free 24/7 number for poison centres. If you suspect a poisoning, call 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669). Or 1-800-565-8161 (within NS, PEI and NL only)
If the person loses consciousness or has difficulty breathing, call 911.