Of those, nearly 60 percent involved children under age 5. Children ages 5 and under are particularly vulnerable to poisoning due to their curiosity and natural desire to put everything into their mouths, said Martha Collar, coordinator of the Oklahoma SAFE KIDS Coalition. When poison-proofing their home, adults should get down on the floor to view their home from a child's perspective. From this vantage point, they will be better able to spot hazardous products that children can easily see and reach. Stay alert while using poisonous products.
Many poisonings occur while adults are using a household product like a bathroom cleanser or bleach.
Know where children are while using these products. Never leave a child alone in a room with a poisonous product. Never refer to medicine as candy. Medicine is not candy and to refer to it as such could create the perception that it is harmless. Since children tend to mimic adults, avoid taking medications in front of them.