• Involves children aged 0-4 with 2-3 year olds at greatest risk of pharmaceutical poisonings.
  
  
• More boys (57%) than girls are poisoned.
  
  
• Three-quarters of all poisonings occur in the child’s own home.
  
  
• Consists of a prescription drug or “over-the-counter” (OTC) product located below one metre in height or within sight of the child.
  
  
• Occurs whilst under the supervision of a caregiver, but not in direct sight and entails a product not stored safely at the time of the incident.*
  
  
• Poisonings cost the Australian healthcare system between AU$100-400 million annually.
  
  
• Poisonings were the second leading cause of injury-related mortality, costing US$12.6 billion annually, within the United States in 2001.
  
  
• Of all children admitted to hospital as a result of poisonings, 88% are under 5.
  
  

       * (Based on several surveys of poisoning cases seen at Auckland Hospitals and A&Es during 1992-1994)