Matches

Matches pose two very serious threats to children if left in a place where children can find them.

  1. The chemicals that cause fire when a match is struck can cause toxicity in a young child if enough is ingested.
  2. Fires are a leading cause of death among children. They kill more than 600 children each year and injure nearly 47,000 more. Among the way to help prevent fired in the household are:
    • Keep matches, lighters and other heat sources out of children's reach
    • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home
    • Keep flammable items such as clothing, furniture, newspapers or magazines away from the fireplace, heater or radiator
    • Avoid plugging several appliance cords into the same electrical outlet
    • Educate everyone in your home on what to do in the case of a fire

Additional Resources:

The Cincinnati Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC) provides information about when to call your local poison control center and first aid emergency action.