Poisons

A lovely bottle of perfume, a common houseplant, a handy spray bottle of window cleaner, some iron tablets--all these common household items can be poison to your child. If you have a child under five, he is especially at risk for accidental poisoning in the home. A child of that age is curious, has little understanding about what is dangerous to eat and drink, and he has a strong urge to imitate what you do.

''The best way to keep your child from being accidentally poisoned is to never leave a poison and your child alone together,'' says Jude McNally, R.Ph., a registered pharmacist and assistant director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center in Tucson. Here's his advice on how to poison-proof your home--and how to be prepared for emergencies.

* Assume your child can get into anything. Go through your house room by room and put all poisons out of reach. Keep all dangerous substances on a high shelf, preferably in a locked box.

* Keep your eye on cleaning products and other dangerous substances while you are using them, and put them away as soon as you are finished. One study showed that as many as 40 percent of pediatric household poisonings occurred when parents were using the product. Assume that a child can always get his hands on the poison when your back is turned.

* Never coax your child to take medication by saying that it tastes like candy.

* Don't leave medication lying around where children can reach. Studies show that, given time, kids can figure out how to open up child-proof packaging.

* Do what pharmacists do: Always read the label before giving your child a dose of medication. Don't assume that you remember the proper dose.

* At night, always turn on the light before giving medication. Tragic mistakes have been made by giving medicine from the wrong bottle.

* Clean out your medicine cabinet. Flush outdated medication down the toilet or pour liquid medicines down the sink. Store other medications in a locked box.
Caution: The medicine cabinet is the worst place to keep medication because children can easily climb up, open the cabinet door and help themselves.

* Be sure that all poisons are stored in locked cabinets or well out of reach in your basement, gardening shed and garage as well as the house.

* Don't leave vitamins out on the kitchen counter. A child can eat a bottle of iron tablets as though it were candy.

* When you have visitors in your home, ask them to keep their medication, perfume and make-up in a locked travel case or well out of the reach of toddlers.

* Be especially careful when you bring your children into other people's homes. Your friends may not be as careful about poisons as you are.

* Always keep your Poison Control Center's telephone number posted or taped on the phone.

* Keep ipecac syrup on hand for certain types of poisonings. (But only use it when instructed to do so by a Poison Control Center or physician.)

* Avoid the following plants in and around your home. Not all of the varieties of these plants are poisonous--but many varieties are hazardous. To be on the safe side, keep these plants out of the reach
of children.