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The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) reports that every year Americans are poisoned with:

94 percent of poisonings happening in the home.

81 percent of human poisonings being unintentional, and

51 percent of calls to poison centers involving children 5 and younger.

In fact, in 2013 U.S. poison centers answered almost 3.1 million calls related to human poisonings.

The third week of March each year is "National Poison Prevention Week". This year some of the themes which will be focused upon are:

• Children Act Fast; So Do Poisons
• Home Safe Home
• Spotlight on Prescription Painkillers

"This is such an important issue that we at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., feel it is important to get the message out about preventing poisonings by providing the following tips from the AAPCC to assist in this effort," says Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Children Act Fast: So Do Poisons - Tips for keeping kids safe:

• Keep cleaning supplies and medicines locked up and away from children.
• When it comes to poison prevention, child-resistant is not child-proof.
• Layer the protection: re-seal, lock it up, and store out of sight and reach.
• Tell children what medicine is and why an adult must be the one to give it to them.
• Never call medicine "candy" to get children to take it.
• Teach children to always ask an adult before eating, drinking or touching anything.
• Keep the poison help line number easily accessible.

Home Safe Home - Helpful Household Tips

• Keep medications and cleaning products in their original containers.
• Turn on the light and put on your glasses when giving or taking medicine.
• Read medicine labels each time you are taking or giving medications.
• Track your medicines to be sure you are taking them as prescribed. (The AACPP provides a link to a sample medicine tracker. Click on the link Medicine Tracker to download a copy.)
• Always ask your pharmacist before taking herbal products, as they may interact with prescribed medications.
• Never mix household cleaning products together. Mixing them could create a poisonous gas.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector on every level of the house.
• Have paint and toys tested for lead.
• Store cosmetics out of children's reaches.

Spotlight on Prescription Painkillers - The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden says that overdoses involving prescription painkillers are at epidemic levels and now kill more Americans than either heroin or cocaine combined. Every day one hundred people die in the United States because of drug overdoses with a 7 percent increase in the severity of cases reported to poison centers.

"Contact the poison help line for more information, and remember, keep its phone number - 800.222.1222 - in an easily accessible place at home. Also, program the number into your cell phone so you are never without it," reminds Attorney Spivey.

Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just 1 percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at  239. 337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.