[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 120, 109th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 7988--MAR. 10, 2006
Proclamation 7988 of March 10, 2006
National Poison Prevention Week
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
National Poison Prevention Week helps raise awareness about the dangers
of poison exposure. Our Nation has made great progress in reducing the
number of poison-related deaths and injuries since the first National
Poison Prevention Week in 1962, yet poisonings remain a threat to the
health and safety of many Americans.
Approximately 1 million of our Nation's children under the age of 5 are
exposed to poisonous substances each year. Most of these instances are
preventable and result from the ingestion of household products. The
Consumer Product Safety Commission requires child-resistant packaging
for many medicines and household chemicals, and it is important for
parents and adults to remember to act responsibly by storing these
substances out of the reach of children.
The most common cause of death due to accidental poisoning results from
exposure to carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that is produced
by products such as grills, gas stoves, water heaters, and automobiles.
Every year, more than 500 Americans die from carbon monoxide poisoning,
usually during winter months. Knowledge is the key to preventing this
kind of poisoning. Placing a carbon monoxide alarm on each level of a
home, and especially near bedrooms, is a good way to monitor air quality
and remain alert to potentially high levels of carbon monoxide.
Information about poison exposure and how homes can be made safer is
available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website,
www.cdc.gov/health/poisoning.html, and the Poison Prevention Week
Council website, www.poisonprevention.org. In case of emergency,
families can contact their nearest Poison Control Center, 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, by calling 1-800-222-1222. By working together and
taking the appropriate precautions, we can help to prevent deaths and
injuries caused by accidental poisonings.

[[Page 3774]]
120 STAT. 3774

To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers of accidental
poisonings and to take appropriate preventive measures, the Congress, by
joint resolution approved September 26, 1961, as amended (75 Stat. 681),
has 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 19 through March 25, 2006, as National
Poison Prevention Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week
by participating in appropriate activities and by learning how to
prevent poisonings, especially among children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH