Presidential Documents

16523 

Federal Register 

Vol. 76, No. 56 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8638 of March 18, 2011 

National Poison Prevention Week, 2011 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Each day, emergency rooms treat nearly 2,000 Americans for accidental 

poisonings, and dozens die as a result of ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise 

exposing themselves to poisonous substances. In many cases, these tragic 

incidents are preventable. During National Poison Prevention Week, I encourage all Americans to identify possible dangers in the home, take action 

to address poisoning hazards, and learn how to respond if a poison emergency 

should occur. 

Children are particularly susceptible to unintentional poisoning. More than 

half of all reported poison exposures involve children under the age of 

six, and many occur when unsupervised children find and consume medicines or harmful chemicals. Unintentional poisonings among young people 

often occur when misusing or abusing prescription medications such as 

pain killers, sedatives, and stimulants taken from a home medicine cabinet. 

Parents and caregivers can help prevent these injuries by taking simple 

steps to secure medications and other dangerous materials including resealing 

child-resistant containers, placing drugs and toxic chemicals out of reach 

of children, and storing all these products in locked or childproof cabinets. 

Sadly, death rates from unintentional poisonings have increased steadily 

in recent years. Many adult poisonings stem from accidental or intentional 

exposure to over-the-counter or prescription drugs. These can be avoided 

by reading labels before taking medications, storing medicines in their original containers, and safely disposing of unused prescription medication. These 

actions can reduce the risk posed by medications with abuse potential. 

All Americans can help prevent needless harm from hazardous materials 

by becoming more aware of the dangers of poisonings and the ways we 

can prevent and respond to these incidents. 

In the event of an accidental poisoning, quick action can prevent serious 

injury and save lives. If confronted with a suspected poisoning, individuals 

should call the national poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222. I encourage 

families to post this number near their home telephone, which connects 

callers to potentially life-saving information at local and regional poison 

control centers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers of accidental 

poisonings and to take appropriate preventive measures, the Congress, by 

joint resolution approved September 26, 1961, as amended (75 Stat. 681), 

has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of March each year as ‘‘National Poison Prevention 

Week.’’ 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, do hereby proclaim March 20 through March 26, 2011, as 

‘‘National Poison Prevention Week.’’ I call upon all Americans to observe 

this week by taking actions to protect their families from hazardous household materials and from misuse of prescription medications. 


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16524 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 23, 2011 / Presidential Documents 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day 

of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. 

[FR Doc. 2011–7057 

Filed 3–22–11; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3195–W1–P 


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