    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 13 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
    [Page 437]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Proclamation 7763--National Poison Prevention Week, 2004

     March 19, 2004

    By the President of the United States

    of America

    A Proclamation

        Each year, approximately 1 million calls to poison control centers
    are made because children may have ingested harmful substances. The
    National Poison Prevention Week Council organizes activities annually to
    raise awareness of the danger of unintentional poisoning and to educate
    adults about how to avoid and handle these emergencies.
        Since the first National Poison Prevention Week in 1962, our Nation
    has taken important steps to protect children from consuming
    inappropriate medicines or household chemicals by heightening awareness,
    supporting poison control centers, and improving packaging. In December,
    I signed the Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act
    Amendments of 2003 to provide assistance for poison prevention programs
    and to stabilize the funding of regional poison control centers. This
    measure supports those who are working to reduce poisonings in America
    and to improve the safety and health of all Americans.
        The Consumer Product Safety Commission requires child-resistant
    packaging for certain toxic medicines and chemicals. Because packaging
    is never completely child-proof, adults should also lock medicines and
    chemicals out of the reach of children.
        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, George W. Bush, President of the United States of
    America, do hereby proclaim March 21 through March 27, 2004, 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 among children.
        In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day
    of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
    eighth.
                                                    George W. Bush

     [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11 a.m., March 22,
    2004]

    Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on March
    23. This item was not received in time for publication in the
    appropriate issue.