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- Cause
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- Awareness
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- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every March
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Poison Prevention Awareness Month takes place throughout March, emphasizing the critical importance of safeguarding against accidental poisonings. This annual observance raises public awareness about common household hazards. Secure your home, educate your loved ones, and recognize the signs of poisoning to keep everyone safe.
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Expected Poison Prevention Awareness Month Deals
Throughout Poison Prevention Awareness Month, expect a focus on educational campaigns and community outreach rather than commercial deals. Organizations like America’s Poison Centers and the Poison Prevention Week Council will partner with healthcare providers and local authorities to distribute safety information and host free workshops. Retailers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot may highlight child-resistant storage solutions and safe chemical disposal products. Pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer often support public health initiatives with informational resources. Look for local pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens to offer educational flyers and potentially discounted safety items. We will update this page with confirmed live events and resources as March approaches.
Platform Guide for Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #PoisonPrevention. Share infographics on household hazards and safety tips.
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Mention @NatlToday and use #PoisonPrevention. Post quick facts and links to emergency resources throughout the month.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #PoisonPrevention. Create visual guides on safe storage and emergency contacts for children and pets.
Poison Prevention Awareness Month Hero
Dr. Jay M. Arena
History of Poison Prevention Awareness Month
In the early 20th century, very little was known about poisons. There weren’t any poison control centers, comprehensive drug labeling, or oversight of pharmaceutical manufacturing. As a result, the understanding of deaths and health problems associated with toxicology wasn’t well understood. But as medical science improved, so did the knowledge about poison.
A pediatrician at Duke University named Jay Arena, M.D. collected information about toxic hazards in the early 1930s and The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was founded at this time. The pediatric practice had begun to recognize childhood poisonings and patient morbidity, and a deeper understanding was needed. Arena gave advice to physicians on poisoning cases and he provided the first reports on the hazards of household products to children.
The first formal poison control center was developed in 1953 by Edward Press, M.D., and Louis Gdalman. It was located in Chicago and it gave people the opportunity to call in for medical advice and collected standard data. They quickly grew after the first one and by 1978 there were 661 centers.
The United States Congress passed a joint resolution on September 26, 1961. The resolution requested that the President proclaim the third week of March National Poison Prevention Week, and JFK proclaimed it so. Since then, it’s gone on to include the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), providing valuable information to pet owners about poisonous substances, and it has taken over the entire month of March.
Poison Prevention Awareness Month timeline
Today there are 55 centers operating in the U.S.
Poison control centers received more than 3.4 million calls, or one call every 8 seconds.
President JFK proclaims the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week, and in time it becomes Poison Prevention Awareness Month.
Pediatrician Jay Arena collects information about toxic hazards and the American Academy of Pediatrics was formed.
Not much was known about poison control, comprehensive drug labeling, and oversight of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Local businesses can play a vital role in Poison Prevention Awareness Month by promoting safety within their communities. Pharmacies can offer free medication disposal bags and display educational materials on safe storage. Hardware stores can highlight child-resistant cabinet locks and secure storage solutions for chemicals. Healthcare providers can host free webinars on poisoning risks and emergency response, while local restaurants can share safety tips on placemats.
Poison Prevention Awareness Month FAQs
When is Poison Prevention Awareness Month?
In 2027, Poison Prevention Awareness Month will again take place throughout March, from Monday, March 1, to Wednesday, March 31. This annual observance offers a dedicated period to focus on preventing accidental poisonings.
How many poisonings occur annually in the U.S.?
Millions of calls are made to poison control centers each year, with children under six accounting for a significant portion of exposures. In 2023, poison centers received over 1.9 million calls for human poisonings, underscoring the widespread risk.
What are the most common types of poisonings?
The most common categories of poisoning exposures include analgesics, cosmetics/personal care products, cleaning substances, and antidepressants. These items are often readily accessible in homes, emphasizing the importance of secure storage.
What should you do in a poisoning emergency?
If someone has been poisoned, the most critical step is to contact your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 without delay. Provide as much information as possible about the substance and the person’s condition to receive expert guidance.
How To Observe Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Learn your poisons
It’s critical to change the mindset surrounding poisons. Learn what items in your house could be potentially toxic and how to best handle them. Everything from medicines to charcoal lighter and insect sprays can have devastating effects if they aren't handled properly.
Child safety
If you have children, or if they spend time at your house, make sure that they know about poison safety as well. Children can get into products with dangerous chemicals and it’s important that they are equipped with the proper information. Also, take preventative measures to ensure that your house is safe by child-locking cabinets that have chemicals and medicines.
Pet safety
We also need to look out for our pets. Since animals don’t have the ability to communicate with us, learn the poisoning symptoms that you need to look out for. Breathing irregularities and sickness, diarrhea, agitation, and heart issues are all possible signs that could require intervention. You know your pets better than anyone, and if you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to call Animal Poison Control (APC) at (888) 426-4435.
Five Facts About Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Deaths per day
87 people die every day from unintentional poisoning.
Everything is poisonous
Almost anything can be poisonous if too much of it is ingested.
The victims
Children are the major victims of poisoning
Teen danger
Teens have a high risk of death when using household products to get "high".
Why Poison Prevention Awareness Month Is Important
It’s easy to forget
When we use our household items, the last thing on our minds is that they could be potentially dangerous. Poison Prevention Awareness Month draws attention to the fact that this carelessness could have disastrous repercussions.
Children
It’s one thing for adults to be forgetful, but the most at-risk people are children. This month forces us to think more broadly and to take preventative measures to make sure our children are safe.
New information
Medical science is constantly learning more about poisons and the best way to prevent them. It’s the perfect time to brush up not only on the standard facts, but to identify any new information that has been discovered to better guard against poisonings.
Social Media Tips for Poison Prevention Awareness Month
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