More than 2 million people , about half of them under 6 years  swallow or come into contact with a poisonous material.

How to prevent poison in your home

Most poison takes place when parents and caregivers are around but not vigilant. The most dangerous potential poison include the following :

• medicine
• cleaning products
• antifreeze
• liquid nicotine
• pesticides
• antifreeze
• furniture polish
• kerosene
• gasoline
• lamp oil

Parents and caregivers need to be extra vigilant especially when there is a change in routine such a  trip to friends or grandparent’s house.

• keep the following products in their original containers  and out of each and sight of children
  • medicine
  • cleaning and laundry detergent
  • paints an varnish
  • pesticides
• make sure all medications  are secured in a safety cap. You need to discard any unused medicine
• do not refer to medicine as candy
• make sure you’re giving the child the right dosage of medication by checking the labels
• if you use e-cigarette, you need to keep the liquid nicotine refills locked up out of children’s reach and only buy refills that use child resistant packaging
• never place poisonous products in food or drink containers
• keep coal, wood or kerosene stoves in safe working order
• make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working
• secure all devices that contains small button  cell batteries such as  remote controls, key fobs, greeting cards and musical children’s books. These can cause injuries when ingested

What are the treatments

You need to contact 911 or your local emergency right away if you child is unconscious, not breathing or having seizures after coming into contact or  ingesting poison. However if your child comes into contact with poison and has no symptoms or mild symptoms, contact poison control at 1-800-222-1222.

• swallowed poison : Take the item from the child and let her spit out the remaining substance. Do not make the child vomit. Do not use syrup of ​ipecac.
• swallowed battery : You need to seek immediate medical care if your child has swallowed a  button-cell battery. Serious tissue damage  can occur in as little as 2 hours
• eye poison : you should flash the child’s eye  by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of water. The water should be room temperature and this should be done for about 15 minutes
• skin poison : Remove the child’s clothing and rinse the skin with lukewarm water for about 15 minutes
• poisonous fumes : Get the child outside or in fresh air immediately. If the child has stopped breathing , start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and do not stop until the child breathes on her own or until someone can take over.