[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