Media Advisory - Common household products cause poison risk to kids

Safe Kids Canada releasing new data showing many parents are not taking the precautions they know they should

TORONTO, May 23, 2012 /CNW/ - New Safe Kids Canada research, conducted by Leger Marketing, will be released on May 28, 2012, coinciding with the kick off of Safe Kids Week: May 28 to June 3, 2012.  The data highlights a substantial gap between what parents know they should do and their actual behavior when it comes to preventing poisoning from medications and household products like cleaning supplies.

Each year an estimated seven children under 14 die and close to 1,700 end up in the hospital with serious injuries due to poisoning, according to hospital data. The Canadian Association of Poison Control Centres receives more than 160,000 calls each year and nearly half of them are from parents frantic about poisoning incidents involving children under six years old.

This Safe Kids Week, parents are encouraged to keep potential poisons Out of Sight & Locked up Tight!

Interview opportunities:

• Pamela Fuselli, Executive Director of Safe Kids Canada, the national injury prevention program of The Hospital for Sick Children.  Pamela can provide details of the new national research and tips for poison prevention.
  
  
• Selina Esteves, mother of three-year-old Hudson who drank the contents of two bottles of children's medications.  Selina can share her personal story of her son's poisoning incident and the ordeal their family went through.
  
  
• Dr. Margaret Thompson, Medical Director, Ontario Poison Centre. Dr. Thompson can speak to the most common causes of child poisonings and what to do if they occur.

Photo Opportunity in Toronto on Monday, May 28:

• All three spokespeople will be available on Monday, May 28, at the home of Selina Esteves.  Photos can be taken with Selina and her son, and on-site examples of poison prevention practices will be given.
• Time: Spokespeople will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the exception of Dr. Thompson, who will be available until noon.
  
  
• Location: 10 White Birch Road, Scarborough (Kingston Rd. and Warden Ave. area).

Safe Kids Canada also has local expert spokespeople in Halifax, PEI, Montreal, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Vancouver available for interviews.

To book an interview, please contact:

David Mircheff / Sheba Zaidi
Environics Communications Inc.
416-969-2776 / 416-969-2652
[email protected] / [email protected]