Citizens Urged to Store Poisonous Substances Safely Away from Children

Medical Officer of Health for Westmoreland, Dr. Marcia Graham, is calling on citizens to store poisonous substances safely away from children.  

Addressing the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation on Thursday (May 11), in Savanna-la-Mar, she said that children accidentally ingesting poisonous substances in Westmoreland continues to be a concern. 

“We continue to have a concern about accidental poisoning in this parish. Bleach, rat poison, medication –  those are the three that continue to pose a problem, and so I encourage you, to store your chemicals, your medication, and your poisonous substances safely away from children,” she implored.  

“Remember, May is Child Month, but we want to, all year round, see to the safety of our children,” Dr. Graham said.  

She also noted that Poison Prevention Week will be observed from May 14  to 20.  

Turning to other matters, Dr. Graham outlined that the parish’s Aedes index is now under 10 per cent. She added that while the goal of the index is under five per cent, she commended citizens for the parish’s Aedes standing, noting that they are “along the right track, so let’s keep going towards less than five per cent”. 

The Index refers to the percentage of premises or homes in a limited well-defined space where actual breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquito is found and the total number of houses examined in that area. 

The mosquito is responsible for transmitting dengue fever and the Zika and chikungunya viruses. 

To prevent mosquito bites, persons are encouraged to employ preventative measures, such as installing mosquito nets over beds, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants outdoors, using mosquito repellant containing DEET on skin and clothing, closing windows before nightfall, opening windows during fogging, and regularly changing the water in animal and pet containers.