Save the Date: Parachute will take part in National Poison Prevention Week, from March 17 to 23 in 2024, to raise awareness about preventing unintentional poisoning.
Poison Prevention Week is an annual campaign to raise public awareness of poisoning injuries in Canada, encouraging community involvement as part of the solution.
In 2024, Parachute will be joining organizations across Canada to promote a pan-Canadian theme for Poison Prevention Week: coming soon!
Each year, 4,000 Canadians lose their lives due to poisoning and annual unintentional poisoning deaths have now surpassed transport-related deaths in Canada. With many potential poisons, such as medications, household cleaners and cannabis products in Canadian homes, it is important to know how to safely store them.
Suspect a poisoning? Help is a call away.
Canada has a toll-free 24/7 number for poison centres. If you suspect a poisoning, call 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669).
If you are located in Nunavut, contact your local health centre.
If you are located in Québec, call 1-800-454-1212.
Keep the number of your poison centre nearby or in your phone.
Program the number into your phone’s contact list or keep it in a visible location, such as on your fridge. In the event your child or someone else in your household is potentially poisoned, contact the poison information centre. If the person loses consciousness or has difficulty breathing, call 911.
This program is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada; the views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.
Resources
2023 Poison Prevention Week Resources
These downloadable resources can be used to educate and inform on the topic of safe storage of cannabis and other poisons.
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Poison Prevention Week 2023 – Backgrounder
Annual unintentional poisoning deaths have now surpassed transport-related deaths in Canada. With many potential poisons, such as household cleaners, medications and cannabis products, in Canadian homes and families spending more time there, it is important to know how to safely store these items. In 2022, Parachute is joining forces with our partners across the country to show all Canadians they have the power to #CheckForPoisons and prevent unintentional poisoning at home.
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Poison Prevention Week 2022 – Parent Survey
Find out about parents’ understanding of the dangers of cannabis edibles for children, and learn how to safely store cannabis products away from kids.
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Poison storage checklist for your house
Keep your children safe by keeping these household poisons locked up, out of sight and out of reach.
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Poison storage checklist for your apartment
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Poison Prevention Week 2023 – Social media images
Graphics to use for social media
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Parent and Caregiver Tips to Prevent Child Poisoning
Videos: Help is a call away
These videos share stories about poison centre calls and were created in 2023 with funds from Health Canada and in partnership with the Canadian Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (CAPCCT) and Parachute.
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Stephanie’s advice: keep the poison centre phone number nearby
Stephanie, a mom of three from P.E.I. talks about why she always keeps the poison centre phone number nearby in the event of a poisoning emergency. Learn how poison centres can help and find the phone number for your poison centre at infopoison.ca.
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Panicked when your child eats a mystery plant? Call the poison centre.
Stephanie, a mom of three, talks about her experience calling the poison centre after her daughter ate an unknown plant from the garden. Learn how poison centres can help and find the phone number for your poison centre at infopoison.ca.
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“Having the poison centre to call is such a reassurance”: Stephanie, a mother of three children.
Stephanie, a mom of three, talks about her experience calling the poison centre. Learn how poison centres can help and find the phone number for your poison centre at infopoison.ca.
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“The advice I’ve gotten has always been fantastic”: Brittany’s experience with a poison centre call
Brittany, a mom of two from Saskatoon, shares her experience calling a poison centre after her daughter unintentionally receives a double dose of medication. Learn how poison centres can help and find the phone number for your poison centre at infopoison.ca.
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“The advice I’ve gotten has always been fantastic”: Brittany’s experience with a poison centre call
Brittany, a mom of two from Saskatoon, shares her experience calling a poison centre after her daughter unintentionally receives a double dose of medication. Learn how poison centres can help and find the phone number for your poison centre at infopoison.ca.
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When medication can harm: How a poison centre helped a caller in distress
Crissy Amiana, a Certified Specialist in Poison Information at the Ontario Poison Centre, shares her story of responding to a case of an older adult who unintentionally took the wrong medication. Learn how poison centres can help and find the phone number for your poison centre at infopoison.ca.
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Medication is a common cause of poisoning: How the poison centre can help
Crissy Amiana, a Certified Specialist in Poison Information at the Ontario Poison Centre, shares her story of responding to a case of an older adult who reached out when she unintentionally took the wrong medication, but it turns out the real issue was the combination of medications she was taking for herself. Learn how poison centres can help and find the phone number for your poison centre at infopoison.ca.
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When cannabis gummies fall into little hands: Calling the poison centre for help
Amin Rajwani, a Certified Specialist in Poison Information at the Poison and Drug Information Service in Alberta, shares a case where a child was hospitalized after eating their grandfather’s cannabis edibles. Learn how poison centres can help and find the phone number for your poison centre at infopoison.ca.
Poison prevention resources from our partners across Canada
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Canadian Association for Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicology
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Health Canada: Is Your Child Safe?
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BC Injury Prevention Unit: quick facts about poisoning
The BCIRPU’s Poisoning webpage provides provincial statistics for British Columbia, prevention tips and resources.
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Child Safety Link Safety at Home: Poison Prevention
Child Safety Link is based out of the IWK Regional Poison Centre and its goal is to help educate Maritime communities about poisoning prevention This Poison Prevention webpage includes resources and videos.
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Ontario Poison Centre
Serving Ontario, Manitoba, and Nunavut, this website has information for families and health professionals, including common causes of poisoning in Ontario.
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Poison and Drug Information Service (PADIS), Alberta
From Alberta Health Services, the webpage has information about PADIS services and answers to frequently asked questions. PADIS serves Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.
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“Poison Prevention…It’s in Your Hands”, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute
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Preventing poisoning in Alberta children (Injury Prevention Centre)
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Québec Poison Control Centre
The Québec Poison Control Centre website has information and resources on poison prevention; basic information is provided in English and French, with extensive resources for professionals in French.
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Saskatchewan Prevention Institute: Poisoning
The SPI Poisoning webpage has provincial data on child poisonings and downloadable fact sheets, posters and activities.
Programs
Injury Topics
Professional Resources
Media
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Poison Prevention Week March 20 – 26, 2022 Town of Ajax
www.ajax.ca — March 21, 2022
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Pandemic posing increased poison risks for children
www.rcinet.ca — March 22, 2021
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National Poison Prevention Week campaign calls on Canadian residents to #Check
For Poisons among ordinary household items March 19, 2021
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National Poison Prevention Week campaign focuses on children and cannabis
March 12, 2020
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Spike in cannabis poisoning in kids a concern for doctors: ‘It’s candy and it tastes great’
Global News — October 11, 2018
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Marijuana Can Be Poisonous For Young Kids, So Here’s How To Store It Safely
HuffPost Canada — October 12, 2018
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VP, Pamela Fuselli, about the dangers of children being exposed to cannabis
CTV News — October 15, 2018
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President Steve Podborski about dangers of cannabis
Winnipeg Sun — October 14, 2018
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As cannabis becomes a legal drug in Canada, remember it can be poisonous to children
October 10, 2018
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With cannabis legalization looming, doctors foresee uptick in emergency-room visits
Globe and Mail — October 14, 2018