Why are younger children at higher risk for poison exposure than adults?
Answer
Young children are at higher risk than older children or adults. If you look at all of the poison exposures that are reported each year, almost half of them are to children under age six. Infants and toddlers are at the highest risk. One reason is that children explore by touch and taste. If they see it, they want to pick it up and put it in their mouth to see what it is. Their bodies are also developing, so they have a higher metabolism. If you look at how little their body is and how much they eat or drink, they are actually eating and drinking more and breathing in more air in proportion to their body size than an adult does. With this and their faster metabolic rates, their bodies are less capable of handling chemicals to which they're exposed.
Dr. Charlotte Hendricks has promoted health education for young children, families, and teachers for over 30 years and pioneered curriculum development and evaluation for preschool health education. Nationally recognized as a leader in her field, her career has spanned public health, higher education, Head Start, and research. She often presents to early childhood programs and at state and national conferences, delivering high energy presentations to illustrate practical and cost-effective approaches to best practice, national standards, and issues facing today’s early childhood staff and families.
Charlotte served as Editor for Healthy CHILDCare magazine for 16 years and has published extensively, including HIP on Health®: Health Information for Caregivers and Families and Growing, Growing Strong: A Whole Health Curriculum for Young Children. Her latest book, Redleaf Quick Guide to Disaster Planning and Preparedness in Early Childhood and Schoolage Care Settings, exemplifies her ability to present essential information in an easy-to-follow format.
Related Courses
1/early-childhood-education/ece-ceus/course/disaster-preparedness-for-ece-settings-31541Disaster Preparedness for ECE Settings, in partnership with Region 9 Head Start AssociationA disaster or emergency situation can occur anytime and anywhere, often without warning. Through this training, participants will explore potential disaster/emergency situations in early childhood programs and appropriate responses to those situations. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.auditory, textual, visual
A disaster or emergency situation can occur anytime and anywhere, often without warning. Through this training, participants will explore potential disaster/emergency situations in early childhood programs and appropriate responses to those situations. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.
2/early-childhood-education/ece-ceus/course/administration-medication-in-early-childhood-31542Administration of Medication in ECE Settings, in partnership with Region 9 Head Start AssociationStaff may be required to administer medication or treatment to a child in their care. Clear policies on giving medicines, both prescription or over-the-counter, can help staff meet children’s needs, communicate with families, and prevent mistakes. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.auditory, textual, visual
Staff may be required to administer medication or treatment to a child in their care. Clear policies on giving medicines, both prescription or over-the-counter, can help staff meet children’s needs, communicate with families, and prevent mistakes. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.
3/early-childhood-education/ece-ceus/course/managing-food-allergies-in-ece-31550Managing Food Allergies in ECE Settings, in partnership with Region 9 Head Start AssociationAbout six percent of young children have a food allergy, and reactions can be severe or even life-threatening. All staff are responsible for recognizing and helping avoid exposure to allergens. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.auditory, textual, visual
About six percent of young children have a food allergy, and reactions can be severe or even life-threatening. All staff are responsible for recognizing and helping avoid exposure to allergens. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.
4/early-childhood-education/ece-ceus/course/avoiding-exposure-to-hazardous-materials-31557Avoiding Exposure to Hazardous Materials in ECE Settings, in partnership with Region 9 Head Start AssociationChildren are much more vulnerable than adults to exposures of hazardous materials; young children account for more than half of poison exposures reported every year. This course provides information for programs to help them follow policy and procedures for safe use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.auditory, textual, visual
Children are much more vulnerable than adults to exposures of hazardous materials; young children account for more than half of poison exposures reported every year. This course provides information for programs to help them follow policy and procedures for safe use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.
5/early-childhood-education/ece-ceus/course/safely-transporting-young-children-in-31558Safely Transporting Young Children, in partnership with Region 9 Head Start AssociationEarly childhood programs often provide transportation to ensure that children receive essential and comprehensive services. This course will help you ensure young children are safe and minimize the potential for problems by providing information on developing and following transportation policy and procedures. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.auditory, textual, visual
Early childhood programs often provide transportation to ensure that children receive essential and comprehensive services. This course will help you ensure young children are safe and minimize the potential for problems by providing information on developing and following transportation policy and procedures. This course is presented in partnership with Region 9 Head Start Association's Training West.
