The power of prevention: How to reduce accidental poisonings in Philadelphia | Expert opinion
A rise in poison center calls in Pennsylvania for cleaning products shows more care is needed. Cleaning solutions, medications, and small batteries require thoughtful storage, especially around kids.
As a family physician who treats patients from birth through old age, a new trend in household decor has me worried. People increasingly are decanting or transferring household products, such as detergent, into decorative jars or containers, the American Cleaning Institute says.
I can appreciate the aesthetic appeal, but I fear that many don’t realize the potential hazard created by removing important safety features such as child-resistant closures.
In Philadelphia alone, 84 children under the age of 5 were hospitalized for poisoning in 2024, the latest available data show.
The statistics from the Poison Control Center and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia do not include details on how these incidents happened. Still, reporting shows that everyday household items that are stored improperly commonly expose children under five to poison.
These numbers track with a slight increase in poison center calls seen across Pennsylvania related to cleaning products in recent years, even as national exposure rates have held steady.
From cleaning solutions to medications and even small batteries, many items essential to daily life require thoughtful storage and proper use, especially in households with young children who are naturally curious. Many don’t recognize the difference between a toy and something that could be harmful. Within seconds, a colorful object left within their reach can become an unintentional hazard.
These situations often start with products left within their reach, such as cleaners stored under sinks without safety locks or outside of their original packaging. But small, intentional changes at home can make a difference.
If you are not sure where to start, I often recommend taking a moment to review your home from your child’s perspective. Get down on the ground and look up. What can they reach? What might catch their attention?
From there, a few practical steps can significantly reduce risk:
Store products up, away, and out of sight. Keep cleaning supplies and other potentially hazardous items in high cabinets or secured spaces, and never within easy reach.
Always keep products in their original packaging. Original containers are designed with safety features and labels that help prevent misuse and confusion.
Focus on high-risk areas. Laundry spaces, undersink cabinets, and utility closets should be secured or reorganized with safety in mind.
Build safe habits into daily routines. Putting products away immediately after use, even during quick tasks, can prevent a momentary lapse from becoming an emergency.
Be prepared. The Poison Help number is 1-800-222-1222. Keep it saved on your phone, so you can act quickly if needed.
These recommendations reflect guidance from the American Cleaning Institute and other safety organizations. A comprehensive home safety guide developed by Safe Kids Worldwide — available at PacketsUp.com — can also help families reduce risk in high-traffic areas like laundry rooms and undersink cabinets.
As a family physician, I have seen how quickly a child’s curiosity can turn into a scary situation, and how preventable many of these incidents are. I urge Philadelphia families to prioritize safe storage at home. It could make all the difference in reducing the number of young children hospitalized here each year for accidental poisonings.
Libby Wetterer is a family physician and assistant professor of family medicine at Penn Medicine who provides care with a focus on reproductive health and family-centered primary care.