Poison Prevention

Poisoning – particularly from overdoses of over-the-counter, prescription and illicit drugs – has surpassed falls to become the nation's second-leading cause of unintentional death, after motor-vehicle collisions. It is the leading cause of unintentional deaths in adults aged 35-54. With a 160 percent increase from 1999 to 2009, poisoning is the fastest-rising cause of accidental death in the United States. Source: cdc.gov

Each year, over 50,000 calls are received by the Utah Poison Control Center. More than 60% of exposures involve children less than 6 years of age. In 2010 94% of all poisonings occurred in the home. Fortunatley 79% were managed on-site with telephone follow-up.

The Utah Department of Health reported 21.3 Utah deaths from poisoning each year per 100,000 residents. The national average is 11 deaths per 100,000 residents. (February 2010 report)

Of the calls made in 2010, 12 percent were related to exposure to painkillers, 8 percent concerned cosmetics or personal care products, and 8 percent were about household cleaning products.

Safety Fact Sheets

Take Safety Home and prevent a tragedy from happening to any loved one or acquaintance with these safety fact sheet resources.

• Poison Prevention Brochure
• Lead Poisoning Prevention Tips
• Household Product Database
• Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
• Poison Prevention Tips
• Poison Prevention: Protect Your Household
• Poisoning Prevention When Caring for Older Adults
• Preventing Food Poisoning
• Radon Poisoning
• Safe Alternatives to Cleaning Chemicals
• What to do if a Poisoning Occurs
• Utah Poison Control Center

Fact vs. Myth

A survey conducted in the fall of 2007 by the National Safety Council revealed that 81 percent of Americans still believe that children are at greatest risk for poisoning. Every year in the U.S., nearly 2.5 million poison exposures are reported. Children and youth under age 19 represent 66 percent of exposures and Adults over age 19 represent 34 percent of exposures, yet adults account for 91 percent of all poisoning deaths.

Poisoning and Children

While children rarely die today from unintentional poisoning, non-fatal poisonings remain a major childhood concern. About 50,000 children under the age of 4 are injured by unintentional poisonings every year.

For poisonings that can be safely handled at home, call the Nationwide Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222. For all other emergencies call 9-1-1 immediately.

Request FREE Take Safety Home Resource materials. These materials are a valuable addition to any safety meeting or employee safety fair and something that employees can take home and share with family members.