Small children aged 9 monhs to 5 years are extremely curious about the things around them. They regard the environment as a part of themselves. They are more prone for accidental poisioning because of curiosity, sponteneous activity, innocence, mouthing of objects, negativism and immitation of adults. Poisioning may be manifastation of insecurity, guilt feeling, protest to punishment or attention seeking behaviour of the children. Many time it may be due to over dosing of medicine by anxious parent. All this can lead to accidental poisioning.

A poison has been defined as a substance which when introduced into or absorbed by a living when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism causes injury or death. A varierty of substances may act as a poison including the medicine.

One and half year to two and half year old children are highly vulnerable for the unfortunate accidental poisionig event. Male children are predominate the poisoning accidents due to their greater degree of activity, It has been observed that there is some relationship between accidental poisoning cases amongst children and some or other type of family disturbances.

The incidence of poisoning tends to be higher among children from lower socio-economic class of society due to poor storage facility and parental negligence.

Ensure storage of detergents, cleaners, pesticides, insecticidals, toxic liquids in a storage cabinet with latches, which cannot be opened by small children.

Take care that your child do not touch pesticides with bare hands, as pesticides can be absorbed through the skin.

Consumption of any hazardous substance in potentially toxic dose is best treated by emesis (substance which induce vomiting ) unless.

Make the child vomit. Put your finger in his throt, or tickle the back of his throat, or tickle the back of his throat with a spoon, or make him drink warm water with salt.

Do not make a person vomit if he has swollowed Kerosene, Gasoline, Petrol or strong acids or corrosive substances like Iye.

Gastric Lavage is the best method for removing poison from the stomach in unconsious patients, convulsing patients. However, it is not indicated in hydrocarbon poisioning and comsumption of caustics.

Activated charcoal - In a dose 5-10 times the amount of poison ingested, given orally, absorbs most toxins and reduces their absorption.

In India the number if facilities are very high due to snake bite. Nevertheless deaths due to scorrpion sting or other venomous animals are negligible.

Out of 236 species of snakes found in India about 50 are venomous. However, all these venomous snakes are not a threat to man. Cobra, Krait, Russell's Viper and saw scaled viper are the four deadliest snakes found in India.

Snake venom is actually a type of saliva, which the snake uses to kill and digest its prey. There are two kinds of snake venoms- one affects the nerves ( Cobra, Krait) the other affects the circulatory system (Vipers)

These facts explain the importnnce of not getting panicky or over excited. Excitement results in faster cirulation as if the bite is from a venomous snake he venom will circulate speedily.

Remember, anti-venom is the only solution for snake bite and not mantras or any local medicine. such efforts may cost the life of the victim.

Scorpions are notorious for their painful stings. Of about 650 known species of scorpions many are found in the tropical. They are often seen in fields and jungles and even in dwellings. During the day they shelter into crevices and emerging at night. They often get into shoes and clothing even into bedding Hence scorpion stings, are quite a common occurrence.