Preventing Unintentional Poisoning

In the mid 1990s, First Nations infant and child poisoning rates were estimated at four to five times higher than the Canadian average. These rates were also twice as high as the rate for American Indian and Alaskan Native populations.

Children are most vulnerable to unintentional poisoning because of their natural curiosity, sense of adventure and peer influences. If children swallow poison, they are often harmed more seriously than adults because of their small size and faster metabolism. Children also tend to absorb or inhale chemicals more quickly because of their faster breathing and heart rate.

Poison Safety

Most childhood poisonings occur in the home. It is important to be aware of poison hazards within the home and take the steps necessary to minimize the risk of children coming in contact with harmful substances.

Major sources of poisoning for children under four include:

• Medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or Aspirin), cold medicine, vitamins and prescription drugs;
• Rubbing alcohol;
• Personal care products, such as perfumes, nail polish or nail polish remover and soap; and
• Cleaning products.

Other common poisoning hazards include:

• Pesticides;
• Plants;
• Cigarettes;
• Camphor (which can be found in some medications);
• Essential oils; and
• Smoke.

Some of the products listed above tend to be found in purses. It is important to be aware of all locations of potential hazards that a child could encounter.

Risk factors that increase the likelihood of a child coming in contact with poisonous substances include:

• Products within a child's reach;
• Having a child present while doing household chores;
• Leaving children unsupervised; and
• Children visiting other people's homes.

For more information, see:

• Healing Our Spirit see Poisoning Fact Sheet (PDF version);
• Injuries (see baby safety);
• Stay Safe - An Educational Guide to Household Chemical Products for Children;
• Unintentional and Intentional Injury Profile for Aboriginal People in Canada;
• Aim for Safety, Target the Label;
• Do You Know What These Symbols Mean?;
• Home Safety Tips - Most Homes Have 250 Poisons;
• Poisonous Plants; and
• Suicide Prevention for First Nations and Inuit Youth.

Unintentional Poisoning and Elders

It is important to know that elders are also at risk for unintentional poisoning due to the amount of medication they may take.

The National Institute on Aging has created Medications: Use them Safely, a resource for elders to help prevent a tragic situation from happening.

Health professionals can also help elders with their medications. For more information, read How you can help seniors use medication safely.