The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that the
nation's 430 poison control centers are contacted 1.5 million times
each year about exposures* to potentially toxic substances (1). In
1981, FDA's Poisoning Surveillance and Epidemiology Branch received
over 121,000 reports of product- or substance-specific exposures to
suspected poisons. Children under 5 years of age accounted for
60.3%
of these exposures, and 13.0% of these were associated with
clinical
evidence of toxicity. Pharmaceuticals, including both prescription
and over-the-counter products, accounted for 40.0% of the exposures
(Figure 1). The most common pharmaceutical involved was flavored
chewable vitamins (14.1%). After pharmaceuticals, the most
frequently
reported exposures for children under 5 years of age were to
"cleaners, polishes" and plants. The "other, unknown" category of
exposures, which includes ingestion of multiple products and
illicit
substances, accounted for 10.4% of the exposures.
Reported by RC Nelson, MS, MI Fow, DJ Brancato, MS, BI Cohen, GD
Armstrong, MS, Poisoning Surveillance and Epidemiology Br, Office
of
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Food and Drug Administration,
Rockville, Maryland; Special Studies Br, Chronic Diseases Div,
Center
for Environmental Health, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: In recent years, the number of childhood
poisonings
has fallen dramatically, especially poisonings from substances
required to be packaged with child-resistant closures. Despite
this,
many preventable poisonings continue to occur. For ingestion
alone,
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated that,
in
1983, over 130,000 children under 5 years of age were treated in
hospital emergency rooms for potentially toxic substances; 13.9% of
these children were hospitalized.**
March 18-March 24, 1984, marks the 23rd annual National Poison
Prevention Week (2). It is sponsored by the Poison Prevention Week
Council,*** a coalition of 31 national organizations representing
industry, consumer groups, health professionals, government, and
the
media. This year, the theme is "Children Act Fast . . . So Do
Poisons." Emphasis will be on activities designed to raise public
awareness of the importance of preventing childhood poisonings and
encouraging the public (1) to learn about the dangers of
unintentional
poisoning and (2) to take appropriate preventive measures.
National
Poison Prevention Week will also emphasize the role that poison
control centers play in preventing poisonings among children by
providing public information, expert consultation, and specialized
diagnostic and treatment recommendations for poisonings within
their
respective communities.
As part of National Poison Prevention Week, the Council will:
Promote the theme, "Children Act Fast . . . So Do
Poisons,"
and publicize the services of local poison control centers
through workshops, school programs, and the media.
Highlight local activities by pharmacies, hospitals,
schools,
health departments, safety officials, and businesses that
focus on reducing unintentional injuries among children.
In addition, CPSC, one of the members of the Council, will
conduct
seminars for pharmacists and physicians on the importance of using
child-resistant closures and will distribute its publication,
"Poison
Prevention Packaging: A Text for Pharmacists and Physicians" (3).
References
Schaffer J, Lavengood SJ. 1980 survey of poison control
centers
summary. National Clearinghouse for Poison Control Centers Bull
1982;26:1.
National Poison Prevention Week, 1984: Presidential
Proclamation
5122. Federal Register October 31, 1983;48:50053.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Poison prevention
packaging: a text for pharmacists and physicians. Washington,
D.
C.: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1983 (1983/661-620/53).
*Based on inquiries to poison control centers about inappropriate
ingestion, inhalation, absorption, injection, or application of
potentially toxic substances.
**Based on data from CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance
System (NEISS).
***P.O. Box 1543, Washington, D. C. 20013.
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