[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 8638 of March 18, 2011

National Poison Prevention Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Each day, emergency rooms treat nearly 2,000 Americans for accidental
poisonings, and dozens die as a result of ingesting, inhaling, or
otherwise exposing themselves to poisonous substances. In many cases,
these tragic incidents are preventable. During National Poison
Prevention Week, I encourage all Americans to identify possible dangers
in the home, take action to address poisoning hazards, and learn how to
respond if a poison emergency should occur.
Children are particularly susceptible to unintentional poisoning. More
than half of all reported poison exposures involve children under the
age of six, and many occur when unsupervised children find and consume
medicines or harmful chemicals. Unintentional poisonings among young
people often occur when misusing or abusing prescription medications
such as pain killers, sedatives, and stimulants taken from a home
medicine cabinet. Parents and caregivers can help prevent these injuries
by taking simple steps to secure medications and other dangerous
materials including resealing child-resistant containers, placing drugs
and toxic chemicals out of reach of children, and storing all these
products in locked or childproof cabinets.
Sadly, death rates from unintentional poisonings have increased steadily
in recent years. Many adult poisonings stem from accidental or
intentional exposure to over-the-counter or prescription drugs. These
can be avoided by reading labels before taking medications, storing
medicines in their original containers, and safely disposing of unused
prescription medication. These actions can reduce the risk posed by
medications with abuse potential. All Americans can help prevent
needless harm from hazardous materials by becoming more aware of the
dangers of poisonings and the ways we can prevent and respond to these
incidents.
In the event of an accidental poisoning, quick action can prevent
serious injury and save lives. If confronted with a suspected poisoning,
individuals should call the national poison control hotline at 1-800-
222-1222. I encourage families to post this number near their home
telephone, which connects callers to potentially life-saving information
at local and regional poison control centers 24 hours a day, seven days
a week.

[[Page 1981]]

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 March 20 through March 26, 2011, 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 misuse of prescription
medications.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA