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Prevent poisoning

Did you know?

In 1993, 35,000 poisonings were reported. Nearly nine out of 10 poisoning incidents happen in the child's own home or yard and most happen to children under five years of age.

The facts


  • 60 per cent of poisonings of pre-school children are due to medications
  • 15 per cent to plants
  • 12 percent to cosmetics
  • 9 per cent to cleaning products

You can prevent poisoning


  • keep visitors’ handbags out of reach as these may contain pills, cigarettes, or other dangerous items
  • ensure that all medicine is out of reach and locked away -- many children can open child-resistant bottle caps
  • ensure that all vitamins are out of reach and locked away -- the small amount of iron in multiple vitamins can seriously hurt a child
  • keep all cigarettes and cigarette butts out of a child's reach -- one un-smoked cigarette or two cigarette butts contain enough nicotine to cause serious gastro-intestinal distress if swallowed by a child
  • store all cleaning detergents including dishwasher detergent securely -- a small amount can cause severe burns to the mouth or esophagus if swallowed