National Safety Council News Release, March 11, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE				
March 11, 2002
CONTACT: Joe Larkin
630-775-2303

National Safety Council Launches Poison Prevention Campaign

Itasca, Ill. -- During Poison Prevention Week, March 17-23, the National Safety Council (NSC) in cooperation with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is launching a web-based informational campaign (http://www.nsc.org/poison.htm to raise awareness of the importance of reading labels on household cleaners, pesticides, and insecticides. The label helps you buy the right amount of the right chemical; tells you how to store and dispose of it properly; gives first aid information; and provides other important information. 

In 2000 there were 2,168,248 human toxic exposures reported to 63 poison control centers in the United States. The Council has developed and posted a series of useful Fact Sheets on poison prevention to combat this serious public health problem.  They include:
*	Unintentional Poisonings of Children: The Statistics
*	How to Prevent Poisonings in Your Home
*	Understanding a Pesticide Label
*	Poison Prevention Tips
*	Pesticides
*	First Aid for Poisoning, and 
*	Disposal of Hazardous Products

The web page also contains a Poison Prevention Crossword for kids. This event is intended as a means for local communities to raise awareness about the dangers of unintentional poisonings and to encourage prevention measures. The Fact Sheets and Crossword can be duplicated for use by individuals, schools, community organizations and others for distribution to students and constituents to help prevent unintentional poisonings. 

The National Safety Council, founded in 1913, was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953.  Among its objects and purposes is *to organize, establish, and conduct programs for the education of all persons in safety methods and procedures.*  With 37,500 member organizations and 50 local and regional chapters across the country, the National Safety Council is the nation*s leading health and safety organization. For additional information on Poison Prevention Week, visit <http://www.nsc.org/poison.htm>, or call the NSC*s Environmental Health Center at 202-293-2270 x490.

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