The youngest children are naturally at greatest risk. More than 90 percent of all poison exposures occur in homes. Calls to poison control centers peak during the late afternoon and evening. Children can be poisoned by many common household products, including cleaning supplies, cosmetics, plants, foreign bodies, toys, pesticides, art supplies, alcohol, medicines and vitamins. In addition, lead and carbon monoxide both pose significant poison risk to children.
Male children are more likely than females to be poisoned.
Black children ages 5 and under have a poisoning death rate approximately twice that of white children. Children are more likely to suffer from elevated blood lead levels if they live in older housing. Living in low-income communities and larger metropolitan areas are contributing factors. When it comes to unintentional childhood poisonings, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Because no prevention method is 100 percent effective, being prepared can keep poison exposure from turning into tragedy for you and your family.