Poisons safety

Children's hospital admissions from poisons

Poisoning is one of the most common childhood injuries, and nearly all childhood poisonings take place at home. 

Every year, in NSW, more than 500 children are admitted to hospital as a result of poisoning from products found in and around the home.

Most accidental poisonings happen to children younger than five years old, with children aged one to three years most at risk. Storing potentially poisonous substances either locked away or out of reach of children is crucial to prevent accidental poisoning.

Tips to prevent poisoning in the home

  • Save the Poisons Information Centre phone number (13 11 26) on your mobile phone
  • Ensure that all poisons, including medicines, vapes, cleaning products and chemicals are:
    • in their original container
    • clearly labelled
    • out of reach from children
  • Place containers with poisons in a child-resistant locked cupboard that is at least 1.5 metres above the ground
  • Closely supervise children, especially visitors, around the home
  • Return poisons to their safe storage area immediately after use - do not leave them out on a bench or counter
  • Be extra vigilant when a normal family routine is changed, for example, going on holidays, moving house, having visitors and during family disruption
  • Dispose of unwanted household chemicals – contact EPA Clean Out on 131 555 or visit NSW EPA
  • Check that the plants in your garden are not poisonous - ask your local nursery or visit the Poisons Information Centre website for basic plant safety information and more.
     

Medications are the most common cause of childhood poisoning. See Medication safety for more information on safe storage and administration.  

First aid for poisoning 

If your child has had any contact with a poison, don’t wait for signs or symptoms to occur. Call the Poisons Information Centre, Triple Zero (000) or go to your nearest hospital's emergency department.

In an emergency,

  • if your child has stopped breathing or collapses, call Triple Zero (000)
  • call the Poisons Information Centre (PIC) hotline (13 11 26)
  • provide immediate first aid.

In case of contact with poison, there are some general first aid tips that can be followed based on the form of contact with the poison. However, it is important to follow the advice from Triple Zero and the PIC, as they will be able to provide specific guidance based on your child’s situation. 
 

Swallowed

Do not try to make the child vomit. Call the PIC and explain the poison from the label on the container if possible.

On the skin

Removing any affected clothing. When doing so, be careful that your child’s skin doesn’t come into contact with the poison again. Once removed, it is important to thoroughly rinse the skin with lots of cool running water. Call the PIC and explain the poison from the label on the container if possible.

In this process, be sure that your own skin doesn’t touch the poison.
 

In the eyes

Position the child’s face sideways and make sure the affected eye is closer to the ground to avoid contaminating the other eye. Hold the eyelid open. Wash the eye with cool running tap water from a cup, jug, or slowly running tap. Continue for 10-15 minutes, holding the eyelids open.

Call the PIC and explain the poison from the label on the container if possible.
 

Inhaled poison

Get the child to fresh air quickly without placing yourself or the child at risk. Where possible, avoid breathing in further fumes. Ventilate the area by opening doors and windows wide if it is safe to do so.

Call the PIC and explain the poison from the label on the container if possible.