The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has partnered with the Poison Prevention Week Council in ongoing efforts to protect people’s health from poisonous household materials. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported in 2009 that over half of the annual 2.4 million poisoning incidents involve children under six years of age.

The EPA encourages parents to remember the theme “Children Act Fast…So Do Poisons.” The best way to protect children from hazardous household materials is to keep them locked up and away from children. Cosmetics such as perfume, nail polish and deodorant along with household cleaners and medicines are the leading causes of poisonings today. Other poisons include carbon monoxide and radon, which is why health experts recommend regular CO and radon testing. Read more from the recent EPA news release for Poison Prevention Week.

Parents, we encourage you to take this time and check over your home. Prevent accidental poisonings by ensuring that all potentially harmful items are kept locked up and out of the reach of children.

Accidental poisonings can happen in the blink of an eye, but there could be many other dangers in your home that only show effects over time. From the possibility of radon gas to contaminants in drinking water, which can even include pesticides, much of the dangers go unseen. Our focus at Environmental Doctor is to create environmentally healthy homes for people concerned about indoor environmental health issues. To learn more about commonly unseen indoor environmental issues, contact Environmental Doctor in Dayton or visit the EPA for their Introduction to Indoor Air Quality.