ALBANY, NY (March 17, 2026) — The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is urging residents to take steps to reduce poisoning risks at home as National Poison Prevention Week begins.
Established in 1961, National Poison Prevention Week was created to raise awareness of poison prevention and safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control, poisoning is a significant problem in the United States and is the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, surpassing motor vehicle crashes.
Accidental poisoning can affect children, adults and pets inside the home, officials said. Common household items such as cleaning supplies, cosmetic and personal care products, medications and faulty carbon monoxide alarms can pose serious harm if not properly stored or maintained.
“During National Poison Prevention Week, we encourage New Yorkers to take simple steps to make their homes safer,” Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said. “Everyday household items like cleaning products, medications and personal care products can pose serious risks if not stored properly. From keeping these items out of reach of children and pets, carefully reading product labels for proper use instructions, and by maintaining working carbon monoxide alarms, families can help prevent accidental poisonings and protect their loved ones.”
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said children are particularly vulnerable to poisoning risks in the home.
“Curiosity and exploring are normal for children, yet should not be deadly,” McDonald said. “During National Poison Prevention Week, I encourage everyone to make sure hazardous items around the house are stored safely and out of reach of children and pets. Children are especially vulnerable to exposure to common household items like medications, household cleaners, pesticides and cosmetics. Millions of people are unintentionally poisoned every year, and children under the age of six are at the greatest risk.”
The Department of Health said it remains committed to working with partner state agencies and New York’s poison control centers to raise awareness and provide educational resources.
Officials offered several poison prevention tips, including educating household members about risks, reading product labels and teaching children to avoid personal care and household products. Parents and caregivers are advised not to refer to medicine as candy, which can confuse children.
Young children under six face a high risk of exposure, according to the National Poison Data System. Cosmetics, personal care products, cleaning products and medicine are among the most common sources of exposure.
Officials said potentially dangerous products should be locked behind childproof locks or kept out of reach and out of sight. Items that resemble food or candy can pose particular risks to children. Examples include laundry pods, dishwasher pods, colored cleaning fluids that resemble juice, gummy medications or vitamins, and products containing alcohol such as mouthwash, perfumes, hand sanitizers and food extracts.
Pet owners are also advised to keep hazardous household items out of reach of animals. Emergency veterinary visits related to pets ingesting household items are common, officials said. Plants such as lilies and aloe vera can be dangerous for dogs and cats, while rodenticides and insecticides can harm pets if they consume poisoned rodents or insects.
Pets may also be attracted to the taste of certain household products such as cleaning products, essential oils, sunscreen and lotion, and may ingest dropped pills or food. Foods that can be dangerous to pets include chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and xylitol, a sweetener found in sugar-free gum.
The department also warned about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which results in thousands of emergency room visits each year. Officials advise installing carbon monoxide alarms on every level of a home and outside sleeping areas and testing them monthly.
Consumers are also encouraged to clean their homes safely by opening windows or using fans while using cleaning products, avoiding mixing household chemicals and spraying products away from people and pets while wearing gloves.
When using pesticides outdoors, officials advise wearing long sleeves, gloves and other protective clothing and avoiding treated areas until sprays have dried for at least one hour. If pesticides come into contact with skin, the area should be rinsed with running water for 15 to 20 minutes, and clothing worn during chemical use should be removed and washed.
Additional resources are available through the American Association of Poison Control Centers and through the New York State Department of Health’s poison control centers.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.