National Poison Prevention Week, 2013

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8940 of March 15, 2013

National Poison Prevention Week, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

For more than 50 years, Americans have marked National
Poison Prevention Week by highlighting the steps we can
take to protect ourselves and our loved ones from
accidental poisoning. This week, we carry that
tradition forward by encouraging common-sense
precautions and raising awareness about how to respond
in a poison emergency.

Thanks to greater public awareness and stronger
safeguards, we have dramatically reduced childhood
death rates from accidental poisoning--but work
remains. To keep our kids safe, parents and caregivers
can take action by storing medicine and hazardous
products out of their children's reach and removing
unused or expired medications from their homes. Anyone
who believes a child or loved one has been poisoned
should call the National Poison Help Line immediately
at 1-800-222-1222.

Today, the majority of unintentional poisoning deaths
are caused by overdoses involving prescription drugs,
including painkillers. As my Administration works to
address this serious public health issue, all of us can
take part by using, storing, and disposing of
medications correctly, and by speaking out about drug
misuse and abuse in our communities. For more resources
on preventing drug overdose and other forms of
poisoning, visit www.PoisonHelp.HRSA.gov. Information
about safe drug disposal is available at
www.DEAdiversion.USDOJ.gov.

To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers
of accidental poisonings and to take appropriate
preventative 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 March 17
through March 23, 2013, 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 misuse of prescription
medicines.

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