EcoWaste Coalition Backs National Campaign for Poison Prevention

Source: National Poison Management and Control Center

The EcoWaste Coalition, a staunch advocate for chemical safety and zero waste, will gather community leaders tomorrow for a timely workshop in Quezon City on household hazardous substances and poison avoidance.

Spearheaded by the group’s Project Protect, the workshop will be conducted to support the National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) under the leadership of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Society on Clinical and Occupational Toxicology (PSCOT).

“Young children are particularly at risk of poisoning.  It is therefore necessary for parents to be informed of the dangers lurking in the home, at the kitchen, under the sink, in the toilet, garage and washing area and even in the bedroom to reduce the poisoning risk for children,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.

Resource  persons Dr. Erle Castillo, PSCOT President and Ochie Tolentino, EcoWaste Treasurer will shed light on the common causes of pediatric and adult poisoning at home and the availability of eco-alternatives to  household hazardous chemicals, respectively.

On Friday, DOH and PSCOT will organize a day-long interactive seminar around the theme “Think Before You Drink: Poisons in Our Water” at the Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City.

By virtue of Proclamation No. 1777 signed in 2009  by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the NPPW is observed every fourth week of June “to increase awareness on the preventive aspects of poisoning prevention at home, school, work and the general environment.”

Citing information from the National Poison Management and Control Center, the EcoWaste Coalition said that for admitted pediatric patients at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in 2014, the top 10 poison agents were kerosene, sodium hypochlorite, paracetamol, pyrethoid, silver jewelry cleaner, ferrous sulfate, button battery, chlorine granules in water and hydrochloric acid.

On the other hand, the top ten agents for adult poisoning cases at PGH in 2014  were methamphetamine, ethanol, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, marijuana, silver jewelry cleaner, organophosphates, paracetamol, chlorine granules in water and pyrethroid.

-end-

Reference:

http://www.gov.ph/2009/05/18/proclamation-no-1777-s-2009/






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