National Poison Prevention Week
Encyclopedia
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ed by household products, medicines, pesticides, plants, bites
Venom
Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...
and stings
Stinger
-Biology:* Stinger, an organ or body part found in various animals that usually delivers some kind of venom.* Stinger , a minor neurological injury suffered by athletes.-Sports and entertainment:...
, food poisoning, and fumes. Awareness being duly raised, it is hoped that this will prevent poisoning.
Origin
87th United States Congress
-House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Richard Nixon , until January 20, 1961** Lyndon Johnson , from January 20, 1961* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden -House of Representatives:...
passed a joint resolution
Joint resolution
In the United States Congress, a joint resolution is a legislative measure that requires approval by the Senate and the House and is presented to the President for his/her approval or disapproval, in exactly the same case as a bill....
(Public Law 87-319) requesting that the President of the United States proclaim the third week of March National Poison Prevention Week. On February 7, 1962, President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
responded to this request and proclaimed the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week. The first National Poison Prevention Week was therefore observed in March 1962.
Poisoning: A National Scourge
More than two million potential poison exposures are reported every year to American poison control centers. More than 90% of these poisoning occur in the home, and a majority of these occur with children 5 years of age and younger.Though calls regarding children still make up more than half of all calls to poison control centers, they only account for a small percent of the deaths due to poisoning. Poisoning of adults is on the rise in our nation and only stands behind motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths.
Over 1000 Americans die from poisoning every year.
Poisoning: Prevent It
The American Association of Poison Control Centers, representing the poison control center network of the United States, offers the following poison prevention tips:- If you think someone has been poisoned, call 1-800-222-1222 right away. Serious poisonings don't always have early signs.
- Put the number for your poison control center (1-800-222-1222) in your cell phone and near home phones.
- Keep medicines and household products in their original containers in a different place than food.
- Always read product labels and follow any directions.
- Keep household products and medicines locked up. Put them where kids can't see them or reach them.
- Buy products with child-resistant packaging. But remember, nothing is child-proof.
- Never call medicine "candy." Poisons may look like food or drink. Teach children to ask an adult before tasting anything.
- Learn about products and drugs that young people use to get "high." Talk to your teen or pre-teen about these dangers.
- Have a working carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach your local poison control center, anywhere in the United States. The call is free, private, 24/7/365, and expert help is available in more than 150 languages.
The National Poison Prevention Week Council
The National Poison Week Prevention Week Council was established in early 1962 to oversee the national observation of National Poison Prevention Week.As of August 2011, the National Poison Prevention Week Council included representatives of the following organizations:
- American Academy of Clinical ToxicologyAmerican Academy of Clinical ToxicologyThe American Academy of Clinical Toxicology is a non-profit multidisciplinary health association that promotes research, education, prevention, and treatment of diseases caused by chemicals...
- American Academy of PediatricsAmerican Academy of PediatricsThe American Academy of Pediatrics is the major professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP was founded in 1930 by 35 pediatricians to address pediatric healthcare standards. It currently has 60,000 members in primary care and sub-specialist areas...
- American Association of Poison Control CentersAmerican Association of Poison Control CentersThe American Association of Poison Control Centers is a private non-governmental, non-profit association representing the poison control center network of the United States and their staff and affiliated toxicologists...
- American Cleaning InstituteAmerican Cleaning InstituteThe American Cleaning Institute is an organization representing producers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products, their ingredients and finished packaging; oleochemical producers; and chemical distributors to the cleaning product industry.Established in 1926, ACI's goal is...
- American College of Emergency PhysiciansAmerican College of Emergency PhysiciansThe American College of Emergency Physicians is the first and largest professional organization of emergency medicine physicians in the United States. It was founded in 1968 and is now headquartered in Irving, Texas. As of 2009 ACEP has over 28,000 physician members.The college exists to support...
- American Pharmacists AssociationAmerican Pharmacists AssociationThe American Pharmacists Association , founded in 1852, is the first-established professional society of pharmacists within the United States....
- American Red Cross National HeadquartersAmerican Red Cross National HeadquartersAmerican Red Cross National Headquarters is a building in Washington, D.C. and was built between 1915 and 1917. The building serves both as a memorial to women who served in the American Civil War and as the headquarters building for the American Red Cross....
- American Society for Testing and Materials
- Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc.Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc.The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. is an industry trade group composed of over 200 companies that manufacture art materials. ACMI's main function is to certify art and creative materials as non-toxic...
- Closure & Container Manufacturers AssociationClosure & Container Manufacturers AssociationThe Closure & Container Manufacturers Association is a trade association of manufacturers who produce closures and containers. Only manufacturers of plastic containers are represented in the association, although this may change in time.-Purpose:...
- Consumer Healthcare Products AssociationConsumer Healthcare Products AssociationThe Consumer Healthcare Products Association is an American trade association consisting of manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements.-Membership:...
- Consumer Specialty Products Association
- Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- National Community Pharmacists Association
- National Safety CouncilNational Safety CouncilThe National Safety Council is a 501 nonprofit, nongovernmental public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, NSC is a member organization, founded in 1913 and granted a congressional charter in 1953...
- SAFE KIDS Worldwide
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Health Resources and Services AdministrationHealth Resources and Services AdministrationThe Health Resources and Services Administration , is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services located in Rockville, Maryland...
, HHSUnited States Department of Health and Human ServicesThe United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"... - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency