Poisoning is one of the most common reasons young children end up in a Canadian emergency department, and it almost always happens at home — with products that are part of everyday life. Cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink, medication in a purse, a brightly coloured laundry pod sitting in a basket on the laundry room floor. The Canadian Paediatric Society notes that most childhood poisonings involve ordinary household products and are preventable.

National Poison Prevention Week (the third week of March each year) is a reminder to audit your home and close the gaps. This guide walks you through the most common hazards and how to eliminate them — room by room — and then exactly what to do if a child does swallow something toxic.

The Most Common Household Poisons for Children

Not all poisoning risks are obvious. Here are the categories that most often send children to emergency departments, according to Health Canada and poison-centre reporting:

• Medications — a leading cause of childhood poisoning. Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs are dangerous, including painkillers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen), iron supplements and vitamins (especially gummy vitamins that look like candy), cough and cold medicine, and heart and blood pressure medication (grandparents’ medications are a common culprit)
• Cleaning products — bleach, oven cleaner, drain opener, toilet bowl cleaner, and dishwasher detergent pods
• Personal care products — hand sanitiser (typically 60 to 70 percent alcohol), nail polish remover, mouthwash, and essential oils
• Button batteries — if swallowed, they can cause serious internal burns; Health Canada urges parents to keep them well out of reach and to seek emergency care right away if a child may have swallowed one
• Plants — certain houseplants (dieffenbachia, philodendron, peace lily) and outdoor plants (foxglove, lily of the valley) are toxic if ingested
• Cannabis edibles — since legalisation, Health Canada and Canadian poison centres have reported a marked rise in accidental ingestion of cannabis gummies and chocolates by young children

Room-by-Room Childproofing Guide

Kitchen

• Store all cleaning products in a high, locked cabinet — never under the sink where a toddler can reach them
• Keep dishwasher detergent pods locked away (their bright colours and squishy texture attract children)
• Store alcohol out of reach and out of sight
• Keep vitamins and supplements in child-resistant containers, stored high

Bathroom

• Lock the medicine cabinet or move all medications to a high, locked location
• Store cosmetics, nail products, and personal care items out of reach
• Keep mouthwash locked — it contains enough alcohol to harm a small child
• Never call medication “candy” — this teaches children that medicine is something desirable to eat

Laundry Room

• Store laundry pods in their original container with the child-resistant closure, in a locked cabinet — Health Canada has repeatedly warned about liquid laundry packets
• Keep bleach, fabric softener, and stain removers locked and out of reach
• Never transfer products to unmarked containers

Garage and Shed

• Lock up antifreeze (its sweet taste is attractive to children and pets), pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers
• Store gasoline, paint thinner, and solvents in original containers, on high shelves behind a locked door
• Keep windshield washer fluid locked — it contains methanol, which is highly toxic

Living Areas and Bedrooms

• Check purses and bags left within reach — guests’ handbags often contain medications
• Secure button batteries in devices (tape over battery compartments on toys, remote controls, and key fobs)
• Be aware of toxic houseplants and move them to high locations or replace them with non-toxic varieties
• Store cannabis edibles in locked containers, out of sight and out of reach

What to Do If a Child Is Poisoned

The single most important step is to call Poison Control and follow their direction. Because the harm and the right treatment depend entirely on the specific substance, the amount, and how it got in, there is no one-size-fits-all “poisoning treatment” — Poison Control gives you agent-specific instructions (AHA 2024 First Aid; Canadian Red Cross).

1. Stay calm and check the child — your child needs you focused and clear-headed. If they are unconscious, having a seizure, or struggling to breathe, call 911 now.
2. Remove the substance — if it is in the child’s mouth, have them spit it out. Wipe out the mouth with a damp cloth. If a chemical is on the skin or in the eye, rinse the area with running water (AHA 2024).
3. Identify the product — keep the container or package so you can tell Poison Control exactly what was involved, how much, and when
4. Call Poison Control — in Ontario, 1-800-268-9017; nationally, 1-844-POISON-X. They will advise you on whether the child needs emergency care or can be monitored at home
5. Do NOT induce vomiting — unless specifically instructed by Poison Control. Making a child vomit can drag a corrosive substance back up through the throat and cause more injury (Canadian Red Cross; AHA 2024)
6. Call 911 if the child is unconscious, having seizures, having difficulty breathing, or showing signs of a severe reaction

Source: AHA 2024 First Aid (contact regional poison centre for any suspected poisoning; irrigate external chemical exposures with water); Canadian Red Cross (no blanket induce-vomiting step).

Prevention: The Golden Rules

• Lock, lock, lock — child-resistant does not mean child-proof. Use cabinet locks, safety latches, and locked storage for all medications and toxic products
• Store products in original containers — never transfer chemicals to food or drink containers
• Never call medicine “candy” — teach children that medicine is not food and is only for when someone is sick, given by a grown-up
• Save the Poison Control number in your phone — and post it on the fridge: Ontario 1-800-268-9017 / national 1-844-POISON-X
• Take a first aid course — Life Safe courses teach you how to respond to poisoning emergencies, including when to call 911 versus Poison Control, and how to manage different types of toxic exposures