At the start of a new school year, many parents purchase pencils, crayons, and paper for their children, but don’t forget to make poison safety part of your plan! Each year, Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) handles about 40,000 poison exposures. In 2023, children under the age of 6 accounted for 50% of poison exposures, while 7% involved children 6-12 years of age, and 9% occurred in teens ages 13-19.1 Parents, teachers, school nurses, and students can help prevent poisonings at school by following some simple but important tips.
Check the Classroom for Poison Hazards
Poison hazards such as cleaners, craft supplies, batteries, and magnets may be in the classroom. During projects or other activities, children may come in contact with these potential hazards.
- Store potentially harmful products up and out of reach and sight of children and in their original containers.
- Teach children how to safely use products such as hand sanitizer, glue, and markers.
- Caution children about look-alike products that may cause confusion such as cleaner and juice, or medicine and candy .
- Never let children access button batteries. These small batteries are very dangerous if swallowed.
Be Aware of Outdoor Poisons
While outside on the school grounds, children may face poison hazards such as plants, mushrooms, pesticides, and insects or animals that can bite or sting.
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Teach children not to touch insects or animals.
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Caution kids to always ask a trusted adult before putting anything in their mouth that they find lying around, such as candy which may actually be a pill someone left behind.
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Teach children not to eat plants or mushrooms growing outside.
Use Medication Safely
Children may need to take medicine at school. Some schools have policies prohibiting students from handling their own medication so it is good to ask your school about this. Research shows that children start to manage their own medicine around the age of 11 so it is important to teach older children and teens safe medicine use.2
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Teach older children and teens how to read medicine labels and follow dosing instructions.
- Caution children never to share medicine. Medication not meant for them may be very harmful.
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Inform the school nurse or administration of medication your child takes, and make a plan with them for your child’s medicine schedule.
- Avoid sending medication in backpacks or lunch boxes.
Save the Poison Help Number
Save the Poison Help number (1-800-222-1222) in your phone and make sure the school has it too. Calls to the poison center are free, confidential, and answered by health care professionals. If you need magnets or stickers with the number, order free materials online. If you want to learn more about poison prevention, or teach a lesson at your school, visit the UPCC website to find lesson plans and activities for students of all ages.
References
- Utah Poison Control Center, 2023 Annual report
- Cheryl Abel, Kerri Johnson, Dustin Waller, Maha Abdalla, and Carroll-Ann W. Goldsmith. Nonprescription medication use and literacy among New Hampshire eighth graders. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. 2012: 777–787.