Keep poisonous substances around the house out of reach of children:
Kitchen
The cupboard under the sink with its polishes, bleach, detergents, ammonia products.and insecticides.
Bathroom cupboard
Medicines and tablets and chemical hair products.
Toilet
Disinfectants, deodorant blocks and toilet cleaners.
Bedroom
Perfumes, nail polish and nail polish remover, moth balls and insect repellent in strips, sticks, aerosol cans or fluids. All batteries, especially button-sized batteries used in calculators and digital watches.
Garage and garden shed
Petrol, paraffin, brake fluid, battery acid, anti-rust paint, chemicals, insecticides and fertilisers.
Poison outdoors
Some plants, berries and mushrooms are poisonous. Children should be taught never to eat anything from the garden before asking an adult.
How to avoid disaster
Know your child! The young child:
- explores with his or her mouth
- is unable to distinguish between odours
- will swallow even bad-tasting substances
- children under four years of age are the ones most exposed to danger
- First make sure you have the correct bottle before giving medicine to children.
- Don't administer medicines in the dark.
- Read the label.
- Measure the dose carefully with a medicine spoon and give only the quantity prescribed for a child.
- Never talk your child into taking tablets by calling them 'sweets' or 'lollies.' This makes them dangerously attractive at other times.
- Tell your child that the tablet he or she is taking is to make him or her better.
- Do not allow a child to take his own medicine. Teach older children to read and follow directions and warnings on the label. Explain that more than the prescribed dose will make them ill.
- Avoid taking medicines or tablets in a child's presence. Children love imitating adults, especially their parents.
- Remember to always put containers away after use.
