Poison Prevention Awareness Month: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Poison Prevention Awareness Month (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Poison Prevention Awareness Month is observed on March 1st.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Poison Prevention Awareness Month, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as captivating facts you need know about Poison Prevention Awareness Month.

📅 What day is Poison Prevention Awareness Month 2024?

In 2024, Poison Prevention Awareness Month is on Wednesday, March 1st. It is the 1st Wednesday in March; in 2024, it is Friday. There are until the next observance. You also can explore all fascinating details and facts about March 1, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Poison Prevention Awareness Month is in:

March is a month dedicated to raising awareness about poison prevention, which is incredibly important. According to the Mayo Clinic, poisoning refers to harm or even death caused by consuming, inhaling, touching, or injecting various substances like medications, chemicals, venoms, or gases. Despite not being widely recognized, most cases of poisoning actually happen within the household. Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of acute poisoning, and it is particularly dangerous because it can involve the intake of harmful substances like carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. These chemicals can be silent killers when breathed in.

📜 Poison Prevention Awareness Month History

Jay Arena, M.D., is a pediatrician at Duke University who played a crucial role in raising awareness about the dangers of home chemicals to children. In the early 1930s, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was established to gather information on hazardous risks, including poisonings and patient morbidity in children. Arena provided guidance to doctors on poisoning cases and published the first papers highlighting the risks of household chemicals to children’s health.

In 1953, Edward Press, M.D., and Louis Gdalman founded the first official poison control center in Chicago. This center allowed consumers to seek medical advice over the phone and collect important statistical data. The success of this initial center led to the rapid expansion of similar centers, with a total of 661 in operation by 1978.

Recognizing the significance of poison prevention, the United States Congress passed a joint resolution on September 26, 1961. This resolution called for the declaration of the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week, which was approved by President John F. Kennedy. Over time, the awareness campaign grew to include the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), providing valuable information to pet owners about toxic substances. Today, Poison Prevention Month encompasses the entire month of March, emphasizing the importance of education and prevention.

Poison Prevention Awareness Month Facts

🔖 Everything is poisonous
If something is consumed excessively, it can be toxic, regardless of what it is.

🔖 The victims
Children are most commonly impacted by poisoning.

🔖 Deaths per day
On a daily basis, accidental poisoning claims the lives of 87 people.

👍 Why Is Poison Prevention Awareness Month Important

The last thing we think of when we use our home products is that they may be unsafe. Poison Prevention Awareness Month emphasizes the fact that this negligence may have devastating consequences.
It’s one thing for adults to be forgetful, but children are the most vulnerable. This month’s challenge is to look more broadly and take preemptive actions to ensure the safety of our children.
Medical research is continually discovering new information about toxins and the best ways to avoid them. It’s an excellent moment to review not only the conventional facts but also any new information that has been uncovered to better protect against poisonings.

🙂 How To Observe Poison Prevention Awareness Month

Pet safety

Learn your poisons
It is crucial to shape people’s perspectives on toxins. Take the time to understand which household items could potentially pose a risk to your health and learn how to handle them safely. From medications to charcoal lighters and insecticides, mishandling these products can have deadly consequences.

Child safety
We must also keep an eye on our dogs. Because animals cannot communicate with us, we understand the poisoning symptoms to be on the lookout for. Breathing problems and nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, and heart problems are all symptoms that may necessitate medical attention. You are the expert on your pets, so if you have any concerns, call Animal Poison Control (APC) at (888) 426-4435.

📅 When is Poison Prevention Awareness Month?

YEAR DATE DAY
2024 March 1 Friday
2025 March 1 Saturday
2026 March 1 Sunday
2027 March 1 Monday
2028 March 1 Wednesday

Discover all 🔗 March holidays, including 🔗 Cause and other 🔗 Awareness holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and must-know facts about Poison Prevention Awareness Month. So be sure to check back soon.

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