Rat poisonings in children preventable

WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- Properly stored household pesticides can prevent some of the thousands of yearly poisonings in children, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In observance of National Poison Prevention Week, March 18-24, the EPA wants to increase awareness of the danger to children of unintentional poisonings from pesticides and other household products. Poison control centers receive a call every 13 seconds.

Parents and caregivers should lock up products that could potentially harm children, the EPA said in a statement. The agency recommends all rat poison bait products be marketed in tamper-resistant bait stations with solid bait blocks -- as opposed to small pellets that children can ingest.

While rodenticides are an important tool for public health pest control, children in low-income, inner-city families are more at risk because pest pressures tend to be greater in densely populated areas.

More information on reducing rodenticides risk can be found at epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/rodenticides_fs.htm