A recent study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that 85,000 children under the age of five are unintentionally poisoned every year. More than three-quarters of these poisonings occur in the home from common medications or cleaning products that are used in the home. Most Common Products Responsible for Poisonings The CPSC study identified the top ten products associated based on emergency room-treated unintentional pediatric poisonings: Blood pressure medications Acetaminophen Anti-depressants Bleach Narcotic medications Laundry packets Ibuprofen Unknown Diphenhydramine Sedatives and anti-anxiety medications Poison Prevention Poisoning Act In 1972, Congress passed the Poison Prevention Poisoning Act (PPPA). This legislation required that 30 categories of hazardous products be packaged in special packaging to prevent access by children. Child-resistant caps that are used on medicines and cleaning product bottles originated from this legislation. Before PPPA was implemented, child fatalities dropped to 32 a year from 216 from unintentional poisonings. Newest Unintentional […]