WHEREAS, all Idahoans should be aware of the ever-present dangers posed by potentially poisonous household substances; and

      WHEREAS, our children too often have access to commonly used medications and to such potentially toxic household products as polishes, cleaners, lighter fluids, anti-freeze, and paint solvents, generating about 16,000 calls to the Idaho Poison Center each year; and

     WHEREAS, Idaho’s official and volunteer organizations, through information and education programs, have been instrumental in awakening individuals to the need for poison prevention, including the proper use of child protection packaging and locking up poisons; and

     WHEREAS, the latest national figures, which include Idaho, show continued declines in the accidental ingestion among children of medications and household products, as well as continued decline in fatalities associated with accidental poisonings; and

     WHEREAS, although our efforts have substantially reduced the incidence of childhood poisonings, it is clear that as long as one child is accidentally poisoned – and Idaho records indicate more than 50 percent of poisoning occur in children less than six years old – our efforts must continue;

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim March 19 through 25, 2006, to be

POISON PREVENTION WEEK

in Idaho, and I call on all our citizens, especially those working with official and volunteer organizations, to continue the efforts that have been successful up to this time until it is possible to point to the elimination of poisonings as a significant health hazard to Idaho’s precious children.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this twenty-first day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand and six and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirtieth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred sixteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE