[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 38 (Thursday, March 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E347-E348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING HOMER GEORGE AND NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2012

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Homer George 
and National Poison Prevention Week, observed March 18 through 24, 
2012. Mr. George was instrumental in the establishment of National 
Poison Prevention Week, and this year marks its 50th anniversary.
  After treating many cases of accidental poisoning, Mr. George, a St. 
Louis College of Pharmacy graduate and Cape Girardeau pharmacist, 
realized that the most effective way to treat poisonings was by 
prevention. Mr. George brought this issue to the mayor of Cape 
Girardeau in hopes of establishing a poison prevention week. Cape 
Girardeau Mayor Walter Ford proclaimed October 12 through 18, 1958, as 
the first Poison Prevention Week. He cited the total number of 
poisonings as almost 1,000,000 annually, mostly due to careless 
handling and storage of common household items, including lye, 
pharmaceuticals, insect poisons, coal oil, and cosmetics.
  Missouri Governor James T. Blair immediately expanded the declaration 
to a statewide Poison Prevention Week. Mr. George followed up on this 
success by enlisting Congressman Paul Jones to introduce legislation 
establishing a national Poison Prevention Week. A joint resolution was 
introduced in Congress on February 1, 1960, and President John F. 
Kennedy signed the bill into law on September 26, 1961. Congressman 
Jones presented the signing pen to Homer George in recognition of his 
public service in preventing childhood poisonings and the creation of 
National Poison Prevention Week.
  Today, more than two million poisonings are reported each year to the 
57 poison control centers across the country. More than 90 percent of 
these poisonings occur in the home.

[[Page E348]]

Pharmacists and pharmacy organizations are active participants in 
efforts to prevent accidental poisonings thanks to the difference one 
pharmacist made. There is no better time to remind the citizens of our 
country about the selfless service of Homer George, and I am honored to 
represent him and all of Missouri's Eighth Congressional District in 
Congress.

                          ____________________