Accidental poisoning is the third largest cause of death in children under 10 years of age and is a devastating situation for both patients and family members. More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur at home. Please take time to survey your home and the homes of grandparents and other homes where small children live and visit. 

• Keep all household products and medicines out of children's sight and reach.
• Install safety latches on cabinets containing medicines or household products.
• Use safety caps and other packaging properly.
• Read and follow all label instructions before using a product.
• When using a toxic product, never let it out of your sight — even for a minute.
• Keep products and medicines in their original containers. If mishaps do occur these products must be easy to identify in order to get proper treatment.
• Children like to imitate adults. Avoid taking medicine in front of children.
• Always read the label and identify medicine properly before you give it. Some medicines look alike and can cause confusion. Never give medicine in the dark.
• Never call medicine "candy."
• Dispose of old medicines properly. Do not save them for future use. Old medicines sometimes become more toxic after they have expired.
• Know the names of the plants in your house and yard, and know which ones are poisonous. If you're not sure, call a local nursery or the Poison Center.
• Keep all poisonous plants out of reach of children and pets. 
• Keep a bottle of ipecac syrup in your home for each child under 6 years of age.
• Be alert for repeat poisoning. A child who has swallowed a poison is likely to attempt it again within a year.

  Know the Poison Control Center for your area and keep the number on every phone in your house or on your emergency phone list. For the Memphis area call Southern Poison Center, Inc. (901) 528-6048 or 1-800-222-1222 (nationwide).

  Take a "safety tour" frequently with young children, using the following checklist as a guide. Ask them to point out poisons — you'll be surprised how quickly they learn!

KITCHEN

• dishwashing detergent
• liquid dish soap
• scouring soap
• window cleaner
• oven cleaner
• medicines
• vitamins
• furniture polish
• drain cleaner/opener
• ammonia

BATHROOM

• cosmetics
• shampoo
• medications
• cleansers
• lotions
• perfume

GARAGE

• gasoline
• kerosene
• car wax/soaps
• weed killers/pesticides
• paint
• windshield washer fluid
• antifreeze

LAUNDRY ROOM

• laundry detergent
• bleach
• fabric softener
• dye

CLOSET/STORAGE SPACES

• rat/ant poison
• moth balls & sprays

PURSE

• medicines / pain killers
• cosmetics

MISCELLANEOUS

• alcoholic beverages
• flaking paint
• broken plaster

  This list may not contain every poisonous item in your household, but it's a good starting point.