Your home contains many poisonous substances in many locations. There may be alcoholic beverages in the kitchen, cleaners under the sink, medicines and cosmetics in the bathroom, and various chemicals and solvents in the garage.

Young children, particularly from the ages of 18 months to age four or five, are very curious. They may eat or drink any of these substances. Children of this age are constantly exploring their environment. They are good climbers and can get to poisons kept in higher cabinets and cupboards.

There are a number of preventive actions you can take to "poison-proof" your home:
* Install childproof locks on cabinets and drawers that contain poisons. Get these from the hardware store. They will still allow easy entry by an adult.
* Keep all medicines in containers with child-proof caps and in a locked cabinet. Discard old and unused medicines.
* Do not store medicines or chemicals in other containers. For example, do not put gasoline or anti-freeze in a soda bottle. To a child it may look like soda pop, and he may drink it.
* Keep alcohol and cigarettes up where small children cannot reach them.
* Remove poisonous plants from the home and yard (get a list of poisonous plants from your poison-control center).
* Make sure that visitors (especially grandparents) do not leave medications in their purse or suitcase where a child can find them.
* Contact your poison-control center and ask them to send you a comprehensive checklist for poison-proofing your home. Keep a bottle of Syrup of Ipecac on hand. You will use it to cause vomiting, which may be an emergency treatment for some poisonings. You may get Ipecac without a prescription from your pharmacy. Never use it unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider or poison-control center, since causing vomiting is the wrong thing to do in some types of poisonings.
* Post the poison-control center phone number by all phones in your home.

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