Poisoning kills more than 35,000 people a year in the United States – that’s more than the deaths attributed annually to car crashes nationwide. In honor of National Poison Prevention Week, a new infographic offers poisoning statistics and safety tips.
Children are the most likely to experience poisoning, with half of all poisonings occurring within children under the age of 6. Nine out of ten poisoning deaths, however, occur within adults over the age of 20. Painkillers, household cleaning products, cosmetics, foreign bodies/toys and sedatives/hypnotics/antipsychotic medications are the top five causes of poisoning.
To protect yourself and your family, program the Poison Help Line into your phones: 1-800-222-1222. This number will connect you to your local poison center, where nurses, pharmacists, doctors and poison experts staff the line all day, every day.
Learn more about poison prevention at http://www.poisonhelp.hrsa.gov and view the infographic below:
