Poisoning is the 4th leading cause of injury death and permanent total disability for Canadians of all ages. But children are most at risk, with an estimated half of all poison exposures occurring among children younger than five.
That’s why the theme for this year’s Safe Kids Week Canada (May 28 – June 3) is “Out of Sight and Locked up Tight.”
Did you know that medication is the leading cause of poisoning in children? Small amounts of adult medication can be fatal to a child. You can dispose of your medications safely by returning them free-of-charge to any pharmacy.
Other causes of poisonings are household cleaners and personal care products that were not safely stored or were taken out of their original containers. Check with your local recycling facility to find out where you can safely dispose of hazardous household waste.
“By removing expired and unneeded medications and hazardous product you will be making your home safer for everyone. However, dumping the product into the toilet or the garbage is not good for the environment we share and the ensuing contamination may eventually be bad for everyone’s health,” says Dr. Richard Stanwick, VIHA’s Chief Medical Health Officer “We hope that by highlighting this issue, the public will become aware of where and how to safely dispose of hazardous waste.”
Safe Kids Canada’s mission is to lead and inspire a culture of safety across the county in order to reduce unintentional injuries, the leading cause of death among children and youth in Canada. For more information:
http://www.safekidscanada.ca/professionals/programs/skw/safe-kids-week-2012.aspx