From the UK.
The Health Protection Agency commissioned National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) has reported an 11% rise in the number of telephone enquiries from health professionals relating to incidents involving children aged under 10 years.
Around 92 per cent of the 18,864 enquiries were caused by the accidental poisoning of children with substances found in the home such as ibuprofen, paracetamol and the desiccant silica gel.
Professor Simon Thomas, director of NPIS (Newcastle), added: “The high proportion of our enquiries that involve children continues to be a concern. Parents and guardians should do all they can to keep children away from contact with potentially harmful medicines and from chemicals used in the house or garden. Where possible, these substances should be kept locked away and in child-proof containers.”
The entire press release can be found here: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1252326273170?p=1231252394302
