Portraits of Safety: Children's Artwork Amplifies Important Poison Prevention Messages

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Students whose artwork conveys simple but powerful messages on safe product storage, the potential dangers of children's curiosity and how to get poison help are the winners of the 2015 National Poison Prevention Week poster contest.

The drawings from the students – who hail from Alabama, Florida and the Virgin Islands – were chosen by the Poison Prevention Week Council. Their artwork will be featured on the 2015 posters for National Poison Prevention Week, which is observed nationally the third week of March every year.

This year's winners include:

• Kindergarten through second grade: Aaliyah Francis, Wesleyan Academy, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
• Third through fifth grade: Elizabeth Hernandez, Keller Intermediate School, Macclenny, Florida                
• Sixth through eighth grade: Ange Long, Discovery Middle School, Jacksonville, Alabama.            

The winning artwork, along with the second and third-place honorees, is currently featured on the Poison Prevention Week Council website at www.poisonprevention.org/poster.htm.

• Aaliyah Francis' poster clearly illustrates that "children act fast and so do poisons" and promotes the Poison Control Center toll-free hotline that every household should have on-hand: 1-800-222-1222.
• The winning poster submitted by Elizabeth Hernandez reminds everyone that poisonings can happen in the blink of an eye.
• The vivid drawing  by Ange Long reminds us that children are curious when it comes to many household items, including prescription drugs.

"The poster contest inspires creativity around the topics of home safety," said Nancy Bock, Poison Prevention Week Council Chair and Senior Vice President of Education at the American Cleaning Institute. "We believe that involving students in creating artwork for National Poison Prevention Week meaningfully engages them at a very early age about safety in the home." 

The posters can be ordered on the Poison Prevention Week Council website at www.poisonprevention.org, beginning September 2014.

For more information, contact Nancy Bock, Chair, Poison Prevention Week Council at 202.662.2507 or [email protected].

Members of the Poison Prevention Week Council include:  Alliance for Consumer Education, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Poison Control Centers, American Cleaning Institute, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Society for Testing Materials, Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc., Consumer Specialty Products Association, Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council, Safe Kids Worldwide, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.

Background on National Poison Prevention Week:

Public Law 87-319 authorizes the President to designate annually the third week in March as National Poison Prevention Week. This act of Congress was signed into law on September 16, 1961, by President Kennedy, after which the Poison Prevention Week Council was organized to coordinate this annual event. Congress intended this event as a means for local communities to raise awareness of the dangers of unintentional poisonings and to take such preventive measures as the dangers warrant.

National Poison Prevention Week will be turning 53 in 2015. To learn more, visit www.poisonprevention.org.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140811/135178

SOURCE American Cleaning Institute