Top 10 Ways to Poison-proof your Home

4 million poisonings occur each year, over half occur to children.  Here are some tips to help eliminate the risks:

• Keep the Poison Control number 1-800-222-1222 on or near all your phones.
• Keep medicines and cleaning products out of reach of children and in locked cabinets.
• Always keep products in the original containers they came in.  Children can get confused.
• Never put cleaning products, gasoline, antifreeze, or paint etc. in something you would use for food or beverages.
• Do not store food and household cleaners in the same cabinet.
• Never call medicine candy.
• Do not take medicine in front of children, they love to mimic adults.
• If you are in the process of taking medicine or using a cleaning  product and need to answer the door or phone, take it with you.
• Grandparents should be sure to keep their medicine and vitamins where the grand-kids can’t get to them.
• Keep items like cosmetics, perfume, cigarettes, alcohol and vitamins where children can’t reach them.

National Poison Prevention Week is March 16-22, 2008.  For more information visit www.calpoison.org

Useful links: Poisonous Household Products List , Poisonous Plants List

Safety Tips for Baby Changing Tables

Important safety features to consider when buying a changing table:

• Safety straps to prevent your child from rolling or falling off
• Drawers or shelves that are easily accessible without leaving the baby unattended
• It’s best if the shelves are enclosed with door’s to prevent access by your child
• Baby proof the drawers and doors with child-proof latches
• Any drawers should have safety stops preventing them from being pullled all the way out
• Anchor the changing table to the wall with an Anti-tip Strap to prevent a tip-over