Document Text
--- Document: National Poison Prevention Week Document ---
Proclamation
WHEREAS, Congress designated the third full week in March to be National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) in 1961 and since then this week
has helped to raise national awareness of the dangers of potentially poisonous medicines, household chemicals, and other substances; and
WHEREAS, a poison is defined as anything that is taken in the wrong amount, in the wrong way or by the wrong person; and
WHEREAS, unintentional poisoning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, drug overdose deaths including prescription pain medicine (opioids), heroin and fentanyl remain at epidemic proportions for both New
Jersey and the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the majority of drug overdose deaths (more than
six out of ten) involve an opioid; and
WHEREAS, although the majority of reported poison exposures involve children five (5) years old and younger; the majority of poisoning deaths
occur in adults aged 20 to 59; and
WHEREAS, childhood lead poisoning remains a major public health concern. Elevated blood lead levels can cause significant and permanent
damage to the health and wellbeing of a young child. There is no safe level of lead. Stop a child's exposure to lead before it causes harm; and
WHEREAS, the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES), a division of the Department of Emergency Medicine of the New
Jersey Medical School of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, provides expert advice, drug information, and poison prevention education to
NJ residents through the 800-222-1222 Poison Help Hotline; and
WHEREAS, all services are free, confidential, multilingual and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year even during bouts of
Mother Nature; and
WHEREAS, the public can contact a poison expert by calling (1-800-222-1222), chatting (www.njpies.org), or texting (8002221222@njpies.org); and
WHEREAS, consumers must be aware that e-cigarette devices, hookah pipes and liquid nicotine may contain very high doses of nicotine in enticing
colors, aromas, and flavors – increasing the likelihood that small children and pets will focus their attention on them. These products pose serious
risk of poisoning; and
WHEREAS, poison experts urge residents to use our services as a resource for poison and drug information instead of consulting the internet for
information that may not be accurate; and
WHEREAS, we encourage all residents to program the Poison Help Line 800-222-1222 into home, office, and cell phones because a rapid
response can make a difference in preventing serious injury and saving lives; and
WHEREAS, the use of poison centers services saves residents both time and money. Most cases are managed in the convenience of the caller's
home, requiring no hospital visit; and
WHEREAS, NJPIES is also involved with the state's efforts in homeland defense, counter-terrorism, emergency preparedness and response, bio
surveillance, and surveillance for clusters of poisonings and their sources (products, food and beverages, chemicals in the workplace and at home,
environmental toxins, drugs and medicine, and animal and insect bites and stings);
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, the Township Committee of the Township Of Long Hill, in
the County of Morris, State of New Jersey and on behalf of the residents of Long Hill Township, does hereby
proclaim the week of March 18th-24th, 2018 as National Poison Prevention Week.
Guy Piserchia, Mayor