National Poison Prevention Week, 2002

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7532 of March 14, 2002

National Poison Prevention Week, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

In 1961, the Congress established the annual observance
of National Poison Prevention Week. Forty-one years
later, this event continues to educate Americans about
the dangers of childhood poisonings and to promote
measures that help prevent such poisonings. These
measures and other poison awareness efforts have helped
reduce deaths from childhood poisonings by more than 90
percent since 1962.

According to the American Association of Poison Control
Centers, more than 1 million children each year are
exposed to potentially poisonous medicines and
household chemicals. In an effort to put an end to
tragic accidents, the United States Consumer Product
Safety Commission requires child-resistant packaging
for many medicines and household chemicals. But this
special packaging is ``child-resistant,'' not ``child-
proof.'' For this reason, it is essential to keep
potential poisons locked up and away from children.

Members of the Poison Prevention Week Council,
representing 36 national organizations, work every year
to organize events during this special week to raise
awareness of unintentional poisonings, as well as to
illustrate the steps that can be taken to prevent them.
Coalition members believe every poisoning is
preventable. Group members encourage Americans to use
and properly reclose child-resistant packaging, keep
poisonous substances secured and out of the reach of
children, and keep the poison center telephone number,
1-800-222-1222, nearby in case of an emergency. This
new nationwide number connects callers to medical
experts that provide immediate treatment advice for
poison emergencies. These centers are open 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week.

To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers
of unintentional poisonings and to take more 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 17
through 23, 2002, as National Poison Prevention Week. I
call upon all Americans to observe this week by
participating in appropriate ceremonies and activities
and by learning how to prevent poisonings among
children.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B