[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 12441-12442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6718]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 53 / Tuesday, March 19, 2002 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 12441]]

                Proclamation 7532 of March 14, 2002

                
National Poison Prevention Week, 2002

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                In 1961, the Congress established the annual observance 
                of National Poison Prevention Week. Forty-one years 
                later, this event continues to educate Americans about 
                the dangers of childhood poisonings and to promote 
                measures that help prevent such poisonings. These 
                measures and other poison awareness efforts have helped 
                reduce deaths from childhood poisonings by more than 90 
                percent since 1962.

                According to the American Association of Poison Control 
                Centers, more than 1 million children each year are 
                exposed to potentially poisonous medicines and 
                household chemicals. In an effort to put an end to 
                tragic accidents, the United States Consumer Product 
                Safety Commission requires child-resistant packaging 
                for many medicines and household chemicals. But this 
                special packaging is ``child-resistant,'' not ``child-
                proof.'' For this reason, it is essential to keep 
                potential poisons locked up and away from children.

                Members of the Poison Prevention Week Council, 
                representing 36 national organizations, work every year 
                to organize events during this special week to raise 
                awareness of unintentional poisonings, as well as to 
                illustrate the steps that can be taken to prevent them. 
                Coalition members believe every poisoning is 
                preventable. Group members encourage Americans to use 
                and properly reclose child-resistant packaging, keep 
                poisonous substances secured and out of the reach of 
                children, and keep the poison center telephone number, 
                1-800-222-1222, nearby in case of an emergency. This 
                new nationwide number connects callers to medical 
                experts that provide immediate treatment advice for 
                poison emergencies. These centers are open 24 hours a 
                day, 7 days a week.

                To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers 
                of unintentional poisonings and to take more preventive 
                measures, the Congress, by joint resolution approved 
                September 26, 1961, as amended (75 Stat. 681), has 
                authorized and requested the President to issue a 
                proclamation designating the third week of March each 
                year as ``National Poison Prevention Week.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 17 
                through 23, 2002, as National Poison Prevention Week. I 
                call upon all Americans to observe this week by 
                participating in appropriate ceremonies and activities 
                and by learning how to prevent poisonings among 
                children.

[[Page 12442]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand two, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 02-6718
Filed 3-18-02; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P