National Poison Prevention Week, 2004

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Part V

The President

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Proclamation 7763--National Poison Prevention Week, 2004

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7763 of March 19, 2004

National Poison Prevention Week, 2004

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Each year, approximately 1 million calls to poison
control centers are made because children may have
ingested harmful substances. The National Poison
Prevention Week Council organizes activities annually
to raise awareness of the danger of unintentional
poisoning and to educate adults about how to avoid and
handle these emergencies.

Since the first National Poison Prevention Week in
1962, our Nation has taken important steps to protect
children from consuming inappropriate medicines or
household chemicals by heightening awareness,
supporting poison control centers, and improving
packaging. In December, I signed the Poison Control
Center Enhancement and Awareness Act Amendments of 2003
to provide assistance for poison prevention programs
and to stabilize the funding of regional poison control
centers. This measure supports those who are working to
reduce poisonings in America and to improve the safety
and health of all Americans.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission requires child-
resistant packaging for certain toxic medicines and
chemicals. Because packaging is never completely child-
proof, adults should also lock medicines and chemicals
out of the reach of children.

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, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 21
through March 27, 2004, 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 among children.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B