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Section 8: Poison: Food For Thought Only!

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT...

Not everything that goes into a child's mouth falls into the category of food. Too often, what ends up in mouths and stomachs may be deadly! Growing children are curious about things that glitter and shine, pretty colored pills, bottles and containers of all kinds, and what's in them. Children under the age of five are in stages of growth where they are constantly exploring and investigating. This is how they learn. Unfortunately, what children see and reach for, they put into their mouths and swallow.

Every year thousands of youngsters across the country receive emergency hospital or doctor's care because of accidental poisoning. These are chiefly children under five who have ingested some common household item which suddenly becomes poison in the wrong hands (and mouths). These include medicines, cleaning products and preparations, insect sprays, lighter fluid and kerosene, turpentine and paints.

You can help prevent accidental poisonings, while baby sitting and in your own home too. Here are some things you should remember:

• All household products and medicines should be stored out of sight and reach of young children -- preferably locked up! (If you are sitting where household cleaning agents are stored under the sink and you are in charge of a "crawler" -- or the medicine cabinet is accessible to a "climber" -- you can put protective tape across the front of the cabinet as an extra precaution.)
  
  
• As a baby sitter you should not be expected to give any medication. But in certain circumstances, you may be asked to give a medication during the time the parents are away. If it is absolutely necessary that you do this, have the parents leave explicit, written instructions for you.

SOME GENERAL POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MEDICATIONS ARE:

1. Read the label on the container carefully as well as the instructions from the parents.
2. Never leave the child alone with the medication. If the phone rings take the medication with you.
3. Return the medication to its safe storage place with the safety closure on securely.
4. Do not call the medication candy.
5. Do not give the medication in the dark.
6. Do not take any medication yourself in the presence of the child.
7. Be careful of what you might be bringing into the house.

Children are normally curious and can get into a pocketbook, briefcase or overnight case of a guest which could contain medications. An otherwise "poison-proof" household can become the scene of an accidental poisoning incident.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW TO DO... IF THERE IS A POISONING ACCIDENT:

1. DON'T WAIT to see what effect it may have. If you think the child has swallowed medicine or a household product, call a Poison Control Center, doctor, or hospital IMMEDIATELY! (These should be emergency numbers on your list.) Describe what was taken and how much, giving as much information as you can. Describe the condition of the child -- vomiting, drowsiness, change of color, coldness of skin. In the event no medical instructions are available, check the label on the container for emergency procedures and directions, if any. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING UNLESS INSTRUCTED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL OR THE LABEL GIVES SUCH INSTRUCTIONS. IF INSTRUCTED TO INDUCE VOMITING, GIVE SYRUP OF IPECAC. (NOTE: PARENTS SHOULD KEEP ON HAND A ONE-OUNCE BOTTLE OF SYRUP OF IPECAC FOR EACH CHILD IN THE HOME).
   
   
2. Call in a neighbor who can help you take care of this emergency; get the child medical aid, or help take care of other children in the family. At this point, don't try to take on all of the care and responsibility yourself.
   
   
3. Call the parents. Explain what has happened, what has already been done and what is yet to be done. If the child is to be taken to a hospital or doctor's office, it may be more expedient to get the child there and have the parents go there immediately rather than come home first. Speed, of course, is important. But equally important is the way you handle the situation. Try to keep control. A frightened and sick child will become more frightened if you are excited or show panic. Accidental poisoning is a frightening experience, but if you know preventive measures, you will be able to handle the situation when it happens. (Tell the parents about child resistant safety packaging which can help prevent these kinds of accidents.)

Section 9: Time To Leave!

Before you realize it, the parents have arrived to find you and their children safe and sound, and to see you home safely. During your first sitting experience, you may have been nervous, but with each new one, you will gain confidence, especially if you remember the Super Sitter Tips we have discussed. Here is a summary of those tips which you should keep foremost in your mind until you are confident that you know them:

• Know what to do in emergencies by being prepared for one, knowing what could happen and how to react to it. Take first aid instructions.
  
  
• Always know where the emergency exits are located.
  
  
• Keep doors and windows locked for the safety of both yourself and the children.
  
  
• Know where the "danger" items are -- medicines, bleaches, household cleaners and electrical appliances. Keep them out of children's reach if the parents have not locked them away in a secure place.
  
  
• In case of accident or illness, don't try to be a doctor or nurse except for minor cuts and bruises.
  
  
• Keep your emergency telephone list handy -- use these numbers when you need them.
  
  
• Depend on the parents or a neighbor in any emergency situation that you are not sure how to handle yourself.
  
  
• Prevent play accidents by keeping the youngsters safe.
  
  
• Supervise where they play, what they play with and teach them safe play. Keep these safety tips in mind ... they will make your baby sitting experience both safe and fun for you and the children. They will make you a SUPER SAFE SITTER.

Section 10: The Super Sitter's Very Important Phone Numbers

Post these names and phone numbers by the telephone. Then you'll have them when and if you need them.

Where parents will be:___________________________________________

Nearby friend____________________________________________________

or relative______________________________________________________

or neighbor______________________________________________________

Children's doctor________________________________________________

Fire Department__________________________________________________

Police Department________________________________________________

Poison Control Center____________________________________________

Hospital_________________________________________________________

Credits

ABOUT THE COMMISSION

CPSC's mission is to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products within CPSC's jurisdiction. CPSC was activated in 1973 and is headed by a Chairman and two Commissioners appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

To report a hazardous product or product-related injury, call the toll-free hotline (800)638-2772. A teletypewriter for the hearing or speech impaired is available: (800) 638-8270.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Washington, DC 20207

CPSC Document #4243