With 93 percent of cases of accidental poisoning taking placing at home, Stoxen Pharmacy of Tomahawk is launching a “Home Safe” promotion during the National Poison Prevention Week from March 19-23. During the week, Stoxen Pharmacy is highlighting the dangers of poisoning for children ages six and under and for their parents to promote community awareness in poisoning prevention on a local level.

“We encourage parents to start poison prevention before their toddler begins walking and through out all stages of development,” said Deena Leavens, the new pharmacist from Stoxen Pharmacy. “We are pleased to share ‘Home Safe’ checklists and tools for Tomahawk area parents to reinforce poison prevention at home.”

Stoxen Pharmacy will have several ‘Home Safe’ awareness tools available in their store throughout the week, including refrigerator magnets with the poison prevention 800 number. Also available are “Mr. Yuck” stickers and activities sheets for kids as well as poison prevention tips and home safety checklist for parents. An in-store “look alike” display, featuring items that look similar from a child’s point of view, for example a can of Comet compares to a can of Kraft Parmesan cheese or juice drink and antifreeze liquids look alike.

Leavens pointed out that red tablets of Sudafed look like red hot candies and green iron tablets that look like M&Ms. The materials are free of charge and are available at Stoxen Pharmacy at 12 West Wisconsin St. in Tomahawk.

Leavens will join Annette Miller from the Tomahawk Public Library for Play & Learn to discuss poison prevention on Thursday, March 22, at 10 a.m. The Tomahawk Public Library is located at 300 West Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Tomahawk. Stoxen Pharmacy is partnering with Tomahawk Public Library and Tomahawk Main Street to promote the campaign.

In 1961, Congress established National Poison Prevention Week the third week in March each year, a nationwide effort to help prevent accidental poisoning. Through a toll-free Poison Help line (800) 222-1222 which connects callers to their local poison center, the nation’s poison center respond to more than 2 million poisoning exposures. The week is an opportunity highlight the dangers of poisoning for people of all ages and to promote community involvement in poisoning prevention on a local and national level. Poison centers are the first resource for advice when a poisoning or exposure takes place.

For more information, call (715) 453-3110 or email stoxenpharmacy@yahoo.com.