Poison Prevention Week Council

Citation

Carter II, J.W. (2006), "Poison Prevention Week Council", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 29 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/pijpsm.2006.18129cag.001

Poison Prevention Week Council

Accidental poisonings are potential dangers for all households with small children. Such incidents are very frightening situations for parents, who turn to local authorities for help. Fortunately, there is a resource that police departments can draw upon in preventing accidental poisonings and as a referral for concerned parents.

The Poison Prevention Week Council, in conjunction with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, maintains a web site (www.poisonprevention.org) that contains a vast amount of information on how families can insure that the risk of accidental poisonings is at a minimum. The web site contains links to several brochures (some available for purchase in bundles of 100 pieces for distribution by organizations, and several that are free with a self-addressed stamped envelope or via the internet) that explain the dangers of various household chemicals, medication, poisonous houseplants and lead based paints, to name only a few topics. There are also links to available tip sheets instructing parents about such topics as child safety and dangers associated with hazardous chemicals in the environment. In addition to the printed materials, police agencies might find useful the links to available community outreach materials dealing with prevention of accidental poisonings.

Of course, one of the crucial pieces of information located on Poison Prevention Week Council web site is the national emergency number for poison control questions and issues (1-800-222-1222). This number is a toll-free, 24-hour response line that connects to one of the 61 poison control centers nationwide (i.e. the geographically appropriate poison control center for each caller).

The web site also has a poster contest open to anyone, in which the winning poison prevention poster will be used as a tool for educating the general public about the risks associated with accidental poisonings. Often, police departments are looking for a mechanism for getting children and adults more involved with the police ... this contest has great potential for just such an endeavor, as does the Council's annual National Poison Prevention Week activities.

From a technical aspect the web site is very user-friendly and lends itself to easy navigation of the available resources. Whether a police department is seeking a useful referral resource, an opportunity to reach out to the community with a useful service or if it is simply seeking to add to its current repertoire of resources, the web site for the Poison Prevention Week Council is definitely worth perusing.

J.W. Carter II