Poisoning is the fourth leading cause of injury, death and permanent disability for Canadians of all ages.
Statistics from Safe Kids Canada show children are most at risk, with an estimated half of all poison exposures occurring among children younger than five years old.
Medication is the leading cause of poisoning in children. Even small amounts of adult medication can be fatal to a child.
Parents and caregivers can dispose of medications safely by returning them free-of-charge to any pharmacy.
Other causes of poisonings are household cleaners and personal care products improperly stored or taken out of their original containers.
“By removing expired and unneeded medications and hazardous products, you will be making your home safer for everyone. However, dumping the product into the toilet or the garbage is not good for the environment we share and the ensuing contamination may eventually be bad for everyone’s health,” said Dr. Richard Stanwick, Vancouver Island Health Authority’s chief medical health officer “We hope that by highlighting this issue, the public will become aware of where and how to safely dispose of hazardous waste.”
Safe Kids Canada’s mission is to lead and inspire a culture of safety across the county.
For more information, please go to www.safekidscanada.ca.