Cultural Care Au Pair’s Continuing Safety Education Program (CSEP), ensures au pairs are refreshed in seasonal safety topics during the year. During the months of January, February, March and April, the focus is on household poisoning prevention as poisoning is most common during the winter months.

Some tips to prevent household poisoning from Cultural Care’s curriculum are included here. So please take note and keep our children safe!

Ensure that all medications and household products are locked out of sight and out of reach of kids, even if they are labeled as child-resistant. Child-resistant does not mean child-proof. Items to watch for include cleaners, cosmetics and medicines.

Always read labels, follow directions and give medicines to kids based on their weights and ages. Only use the dispenser that comes packaged with medications.

Buy products in child-resistant packaging when available. Always store products in original packaging to avoid confusion.

Discard old medicine regularly by flushing it down the toilet.

Never create new cleaning solutions by mixing different products designed for other uses. New mixtures could be harmful to kids, and might not be stored in properly labeled or child-resistant containers.

Avoid taking medicine in front of kids, as they tend to mimic adult actions.

Never refer to medicine as candy.

For homes with a residential swimming pool, make sure pool supplies and chemicals are locked out of reach.

Make sure potentially poisonous plants are kept out of reach.

Host families, how do you protect your children against household poisoning? Do you make sure to point out to your au pair where potentially hazardous chemicals, cleaning solutions and medicines are kept