California Poison Control System (CPCS) urged state residents to observe the Fifth Annual National Injury Prevention Day, which was observed on Monday, Nov. 18. The day was established to raise awareness about injuries and violence – which most people don’t realize are the number one reason that people ages 1 to 44 years old are killed and hospitalized.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), accidental injuries caused more than 227,000 deaths annually and in 2021 nearly 75,000 deaths were because of violence-related injuries.

“Among the most common causes of accidental injuries that lead to deaths involved poisonings, falls and motor vehicles,” said Dr. Rais Vohra, Medical Director for the Fresno/Madera Division of CPCS. “With the right safety practices, many of these are preventable.”

Here are a few important safety suggestions:

Keep all medicines away from children and teens in locked cabinets.

Keep cleaning solutions and other toxic products in original packaging and where children can’t access them.

Properly discard unfinished or unused medicines.

Secure loose rugs with slip-resistant backing, or remove them.

Use non-slip mats in your bathtub or shower.

Use night lights in bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways.

Buckle up – make sure your child is in a car seat or booster seat that is correct for their age and weight. Adults and older teens should use their seat belts, too.

Don’t multi-task when driving; for example, texting, using a cell phone, or eating.

Avoid driving when impaired by substances such as alcohol, marijuana, illicit drugs, or other substances.

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (number is the same in all states) for questions about poison encounters. Trained pharmacists, nurses and other providers are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is free, confidential and interpreters are available. Get weekly tips about safety by texting TIPS to 20121 for English or texting PUNTOS to 20121 for Spanish. Follow CPCS on Facebook and on Twitter @poisoninfo. CPCS is part of the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy and is responsible to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.