POISONING OF CHILDREN CAN BE PREVENTED

More than 1 million unintentional poisoning exposures among children under age 5 are reported to poison control centers each year.

The vast majority of these poisonings are preventable with planning, precaution and diligence, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign.

During this week, National Poison Prevention Week, people are urged to look through their homes for poisonous products and put them out of the reach of children.

Tips for doing this include:

* Crouching down to a child's level to show you what a child can see and be able to reach.

* Keep hazardous items out of children's reach. This includes household products, medicines, automotive supplies and lawn and garden products.

* Lock all cabinets, closets and storage devices where potentially hazardous products are stored.

* Store products in their original, labeled package, and check the labels for hazard and first-aid information.

* Buy products with child-resistant closures, if possible.

* Never leave household cleaning products unattended while cleaning.

* Teach children to ask an adult before eating or drinking anything.

* Keep the number of the nearest poison control center next to every phone in your home. The toll-free number for the Missouri Regional Poison Center is (800) 366-8888. The toll-free number for the Illinois Poison Center is (800) 942-5969.

If a poisoning should occur, call the poison control center immediately. Take the labeled product to the phone with you to provide important product information.

Keep a bottle of syrup of ipecac (a non-prescription medication used to induce vomiting) for every child in the household. However, never give syrup of ipecac without checking first with the poison center.