In 1961, Congress established National Poison Prevention Week to raise awareness, reduce unintentional poisonings, and promote poison prevention. It is sponsored by the National Poison Prevention Week Council. This year, National Poison Prevention Week falls between March 18 and 24 and there are multiple ways that public health professionals can get involve. Each year, the Council will hold a children’s artwork contest to raise awareness about poisons; the Council’s Web site contains more information. Additionally, poison centers across the country conduct activities to raise awareness of the dangers of poisoning. For more ideas on how to participate this week and in upcoming years, visit HRSA’s Poison Prevention Week webpage.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has created the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes in efforts to  eliminate dangerous lead paint hazards and other housing-related health hazards such as radon, which can later result in mesothelioma cancer and other diseases.  Visit the HUD’s Making Homes Healthier for Families website for more information on these poisons and how you and your organization can educate communities.