    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 8484--MAR. 15, 2010

    Proclamation 8484 of March 15, 2010
    National Poison Prevention Week, 2010
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    Since 1962, during National Poison Prevention Week we alert American
    families about the dangers of accidental poisonings and provide
    information on safety measures that can prevent senseless injuries and
    deaths. With nearly two million poison exposures reported each year, we
    must take every precaution to guard against these preventable tragedies.
    Sadly, more than half of all reported poisonings involve children under
    the age of six, and the vast majority take place in the home. Parents
    should keep household chemicals and medicines in child-proof containers,
    beyond the reach of their children. Thanks to safety regulations and
    awareness campaigns like National Poison Prevention Week, childhood
    death rates from unintentional poisonings have fallen considerably.
    However, adult death rates have steadily risen in recent years.
    We must each remember to read labels thoroughly before taking
    medications, to keep medicines in their original packaging, and to
    dispose of them properly. Consulting a physician before combining
    prescription drugs or using them with alcohol also reduces our risks.
    In the event of an accidental poisoning, crucial information and
    immediate action can save lives. Individuals can call the toll-free
    national poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 to be connected to one
    of dozens of local poison control centers, which are open 24 hours every
    day. These centers provide emergency assistance, offer guidance on
    poison prevention, and answer questions concerning potential exposure.
    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 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, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
    America, do hereby proclaim the third week of March of each year as
    National Poison Prevention Week. I call upon all Americans to observe
    this week by taking actions to protect their families from hazardous
    household materials and from the misuse of prescription medications.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of
    March, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence
    of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
    BARACK OBAMA