[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 11 (Monday, March 20, 2006)]
[Pages 453-454]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7988--National Poison Prevention Week, 2006

 March 10, 2006

 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.
    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

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., March 14, 
2006]

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

[[Page 454]]