National Poison Prevention Week, 2006

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7988 of March 10, 2006

National Poison Prevention Week, 2006

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

National Poison Prevention Week helps raise awareness
about the dangers of poison exposure. Our Nation has
made great progress in reducing the number of poison-
related deaths and injuries since the first National
Poison Prevention Week in 1962, yet poisonings remain a
threat to the health and safety of many Americans.

Approximately 1 million of our Nation's children under
the age of 5 are exposed to poisonous substances each
year. Most of these instances are preventable and
result from the ingestion of household products. The
Consumer Product Safety Commission requires child-
resistant packaging for many medicines and household
chemicals, and it is important for parents and adults
to remember to act responsibly by storing these
substances out of the reach of children.

The most common cause of death due to accidental
poisoning results from exposure to carbon monoxide, an
odorless, colorless gas that is produced by products
such as grills, gas stoves, water heaters, and
automobiles. Every year, more than 500 Americans die
from carbon monoxide poisoning, usually during winter
months. Knowledge is the key to preventing this kind of
poisoning. Placing a carbon monoxide alarm on each
level of a home, and especially near bedrooms, is a
good way to monitor air quality and remain alert to
potentially high levels of carbon monoxide.

Information about poison exposure and how homes can be
made safer is available at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov/health/poisoning.html, and the Poison Prevention Week Council
website, www.poisonprevention.org. In case of
emergency, families can contact their nearest Poison
Control Center, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by
calling 1-800-222-1222. By working together and taking
the appropriate precautions, we can help to prevent
deaths and injuries caused by accidental poisonings.

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 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 19
through March 25, 2006, 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, especially among children.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B