While your home may seem harmless to you, dangers for babies and infants can lurk in unexpected places. Each year more than a million children in America under the age of six suffer from poisoning, with the most common culprits found in almost every home: household cleaners, personal care products and over-the-counter medications.

Dr. Mary Aitken, director of the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences says, “Younger children are particularly at risk because they are naturally curious and because so many poisons can mimic foods and beverages.”

The more obvious signs that your child might have ingested something poisonous are a sudden bout of vomiting, a distinct odor, staining on his or her clothing, stains or burns around the mouth, or a container of a toxic substance that is open or empty near the child.

If you suspect that your child has been in contact with a hazardous substance and you notice that he is acting extremely tired, having difficulty breathing, unconscious or having convulsions, call 911 immediately.

If you suspect your child has ingested something poisonous but isn’t acting differently or exhibiting serious symptoms, call your poison control center. If you don’t have the number handy, you can call 1-800-222-1222 to be directed to your local center for guidance. The representatives will evaluate your child’s age and the expected substance that was ingested and will offer advice on what to do next.

If you think your child has been poisoned, first remove what is left of the substance they have ingested or touched. If there is any of the substance left in your child’s mouth, try to get it out, but don’t try to make your child vomit. Forcing vomiting could worsen the situation.

An alarming trend reported from children’s hospitals across the U.S., including Arkansas Children’s Hospital, is children swallowing button or disc batteries. The tiny circular batteries are often found in remote controls, key fobs, greeting cards and many children’s toys. If swallowed, these tiny batteries can cause major problems that require prompt medical treatment. According to The Battery Controlled, a partnership between Safe Kids Worldwide and Energizer, the number of cases in which children sustained critical injuries or even died from swallowing button batteries quadrupled between 2006 and 2010. They estimate that poison control centers nationwide receive 3,500 reports of these cases each year.

Button batteries aren’t the only small danger causing big trouble these days; small detergent “pods” used for laundry or dishwashers are presenting a new problem for parents to consider. These pods can appear to kids as gummy candies or treats, and the mistake has landed many kids across the U.S. in intensive care units.

The thought of your child being poisoned is certainly frightening, but fortunately, there are proactive steps parents can take to prevent these potentially serious accidents. “Poisonings are readily preventable with careful supervision and prevention strategies,” says Dr. Aitken.

Some tips for poison prevention are fairly obvious, while parents may not have thought about others. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following strategies for keeping your kiddos safe from poisoning:

• Store potentially hazardous substances like medications, cleaners, paints/varnishes or pesticides in their original packaging in a locked cabinet or container, out of sight and reach of children.

• Install a safety latch that locks when you close the door on child-accessible cabinets that contain harmful products.

• Make sure all medications are in containers with safety caps, and discard unused medicine.

• Don’t refer to medicine as “candy” or another appealing name.

• Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.

• Make sure button batteries in products around your home are secured with screw-down lids.

Never underestimate the ingenuity of an infant or toddler; with some strategically placed furniture, little ones can climb to great heights, including high cabinets that might contain dangerous items.

Home safety kits including cabinet latches can be purchased at many retailers and are fairly inexpensive. Putting in an hour or two of baby- or child-proofing time could very well save your little one from danger.

“We often share the phrase, ‘it only takes a moment,’ in our trainings and outreach programs,” explains Dr. Aitken. “We use this phrase to reinforce the fact that it only takes a moment for a child to lose their life due to an injury, but it also only takes a moment to practice safety and prevention.”

Call the Injury Prevention Center at 364-3400 for more helpful tips and information. If you’re a new or expecting parent, visit ARChildrens.org to register for your free New Parent Planner, which offers safety information specific to babies.