Nurses warn on home poisons

ACCIDENTAL poisoning is on the decline as a result of an awareness campaign being conducted by Casey Council.
Casey’s maternal and child health nurses are reducing the number of children being poisoned as part of the Victorian Government’s Remove the Risk, Put Poisons Away. Straight Away campaign.
Casey manager of family and youth Lee McIntosh said the campaign was designed to help educate people about the dangers of leaving poisons in reach of children.
She said Casey nurses see new parents regularly to check their children’s health and discuss with them any issues they might be facing.
“As part of those visits nurses discuss with parents the importance of making their home safe, including keeping poisons out of reach and out of sight,” Ms McIntosh said.
“Medicines, cleaning products, petrol and weed killers, bleaches and eucalyptus oil are the five most dangerous poisons.
“Simple things like putting those things away in safe locations immediately after using them can save your child from a very nasty, potentially fatal, experience.
“It’s vitally important to be vigilant about your child’s whereabouts at all times and not underestimate a child’s ability to find poisonous substances in the home,” she said.
“Poisoning is the second highest cause of zero to four-year-old child hospitalisations in Victoria, according to the latest trend data from the Monash University Accident Research Centre, even though most parents don’t think it will happen to their children or in their home.”