RUMFORD – March was Poison Prevention Month, focusing attention on the prevention of accidental poisonings.

During the month, Rumford Hospital worked with area schools and Head Start to provide information to second-graders about how to poison-proof their homes. Materials are distributed for each student to take home to their parents.

The Maine Poison Control Center reports that this year more than 1 million children will accidentally swallow poisonous materials that are found in their homes. Most of the poisonings are preventable.

There are two keys to protecting a child from accidental poisoning: know what substances are poisonous and put them away where children cannot reach them.

Poison prevention packets contain information from the Maine Poison Control Center, which includes a home checklist, Maine Poison Control stickers and information on how to handle a situation if accidental poisoning occurs.