National Poison Prevention Week, 2010

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8484 of March 15, 2010

National Poison Prevention Week, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Since 1962, during National Poison Prevention Week we
alert American families about the dangers of accidental
poisonings and provide information on safety measures
that can prevent senseless injuries and deaths. With
nearly two million poison exposures reported each year,
we must take every precaution to guard against these
preventable tragedies.

Sadly, more than half of all reported poisonings
involve children under the age of six, and the vast
majority take place in the home. Parents should keep
household chemicals and medicines in child-proof
containers, beyond the reach of their children. Thanks
to safety regulations and awareness campaigns like
National Poison Prevention Week, childhood death rates
from unintentional poisonings have fallen considerably.
However, adult death rates have steadily risen in
recent years.

We must each remember to read labels thoroughly before
taking medications, to keep medicines in their original
packaging, and to dispose of them properly. Consulting
a physician before combining prescription drugs or
using them with alcohol also reduces our risks.

In the event of an accidental poisoning, crucial
information and immediate action can save lives.
Individuals can call the toll-free national poison
control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 to be connected to
one of dozens of local poison control centers, which
are open 24 hours every day. These centers provide
emergency assistance, offer guidance on poison
prevention, and answer questions concerning potential
exposure.

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 the third
week of March of each year 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 the misuse
of prescription medications.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

Bill code 3195-W0-P