How to Protect Children at Home and in the Classroom
As families prepare for a new school year, backpacks, lunchboxes, and school supplies get most of the attention. But there’s another critical safety conversation that often gets overlooked:
Poison control responsibility starts at home — and extends to school.
Everyday items like medications, cleaning supplies, art materials, hand sanitizers, and small batteries can pose serious risks if children access them unsupervised.
The good news? Most poison emergencies are preventable with simple awareness, safe storage, and emergency readiness.
This guide combines poison control responsibility in the home with back-to-school toxin safety tips to help you protect your children year-round.
Poison Control Responsibility Starts at Home
Parents and caregivers are the first line of defense against poisoning emergencies.
Common household poisoning hazards include:
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Vitamins and supplements
- Cleaning products
- Laundry pods
- Automotive fluids
- Alcohol
Children are naturally curious and explore by touching and tasting. What looks harmless to an adult can be dangerous to a child.
Home Poison Prevention Checklist
- Store all medications locked and out of reach
- Keep cleaning supplies in secured cabinets
- Never transfer chemicals into food or drink containers
- Keep products in original packaging
- Close child-resistant caps completely after use
- Keep purses and bags containing medications out of reach
Prevention is about creating barriers between children and hazards.
Back-to-School Toxin Safety: Risks You Might Not Think About
The school environment introduces new toxin risks that parents should consider.
Common School-Related Hazards
- Hand sanitizer ingestion
- Art supplies (glues, solvents, paints)
- Science lab chemicals (for older students)
- Button batteries in calculators or devices
- Cleaning products used in classrooms
While schools take precautions, children may still encounter unsafe situations.
Back-to-School Safety Tips
- Teach children not to ingest non-food items
- Supervise young children when using art supplies
- Secure devices containing button batteries
- Review school policies on medication storage
- Label personal medications clearly
Education and communication are key layers of protection.
Button Batteries: A Small Object with Serious Consequences
Button batteries deserve special attention.
If swallowed, they can cause severe internal burns in as little as two hours.
They are commonly found in:
- Calculators
- Key fobs
- Toys
- Hearing aids
- Flameless candles
- Remote controls
Battery Safety Rules
- Keep spare batteries locked away
- Dispose of used batteries immediately
- Ensure battery compartments are secured with screws
- Check children’s devices regularly
If battery ingestion is suspected, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Know the Signs of Possible Poisoning
Recognizing symptoms early can save a life.
Watch for:
- Sudden illness or vomiting
- Burns around lips or mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Trouble breathing
- Unusual drowsiness
- Confusion
If poisoning is suspected:
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222
Call 9-1-1 if the child is unresponsive or not breathing
Save the Poison Control number in your phone today.
Prevention Is Critical — But Emergency Preparedness Is Essential
Even in the safest homes and schools, accidents can happen.
Would you know what to do if your child:
- Became unresponsive
- Stopped breathing
- Choked
- Had a severe allergic reaction
- Experienced a poisoning emergency
Brain injury can begin in just 4–6 minutes without oxygen.
Immediate CPR can double or triple survival chances until emergency responders arrive.
Parents, teachers, and caregivers are often first on scene.
Training makes the difference between panic and action.
Protect Your Child with Prevention and CPR Training
Safe storage prevents access.
Education reduces risk.
CPR training prepares you to respond when seconds matter.
Home Hazard Prevention provides firefighter-led, mobile CPR, AED, and First Aid training brought directly to your home, school staff, church group, or workplace.
Learn infant and child CPR.
Learn choking response.
Build confidence to act in an emergency.
Call or text 480-448-0266 today to schedule your CPR training.
Because protecting children doesn’t stop at prevention — it includes being ready to respond.