Poison Prevention Tips

Keep your household safe by following these poisoning prevention tips.

• Lock poisonous products and medicines out of children’s reach and sight.
• Store products in their original, labeled containers.
• Keep medicines, vitamins and household products in containers with child-resistant caps.
• Never carry something that can be poisonous, such as medicine, in a purse where children may find it.
• Put safety latches on drawers and cabinets.

• Carefully read container labels before use.
• Never leave poison or medicine unattended where a child may find it.
• After use, close a container tightly, and put it in a locked cabinet.
• Never call medicine “candy.” Children may think it’s candy and eat it.
• Do not take your medication in front of children.
• Do not give a child medication while another child is watching.
• Avoid using pest control products that leave powder or pellets in areas where children or pets can get into them.
• Keep children and pets out of the area when using insecticides and other garden chemicals.

• Place frozen foods in the freezer and refrigerated foods in the refrigerator as soon after shopping as possible.
• Set your refrigerator to 40ºF, the freezer to 0ºF. If you don’t have a thermometer, keep your refrigerator as cold as possible without freezing your milk or lettuce.
• Thaw foods in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
• Don’t buy canned goods that are bulging, dented or rusted.
• Refrigerate food within 2 hours of cooking.
• On picnics, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
• Wash hands in hot, soapy water before, and frequently, during food preparation.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Wash cutting boards and utensils in hot, soapy water or a 10-percent bleach solution after use.
• Thoroughly cook all meats, poultry and seafood.
• Don’t eat raw or partially cooked eggs or shellfish.
• Cook foods as close to serving time as possible.
• Never eat a mushroom unless it has been positively identified and verified as edible. Only an expert can tell a safe mushroom from a poisonous mushroom.

• Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on each level of your house.
• Remove poisonous plants from your home.
• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from beds, curtains or other materials that can catch fire.
• Check your house for peeling paint.
• Have all fuel-burning appliances and vehicles regularly inspected and maintained.
• Never leave your car running in an attached garage.
• Keep appliance exhaust vents free of debris.
• Do not use a gas oven to heat your house.
• Do not use a charcoal or portable gas grill inside the house or attached garage.
• Do not sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.