Bill Text: NJ AR24 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Declares March 17 through March 23, 2013 as "Poison Prevention Awareness Week."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee [AR24 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR24-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Declares March 17 through March 23, 2013 as "Poison Prevention Awareness Week."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Assembly Resolution declaring the week of March 17 through March 23, 2013 as "Poison Prevention Awareness Week."
Whereas, More than two million poisonings are reported yearly across the United States and more than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home; and
Whereas, According to a 2011 report from the American Association of Poison Control Centers, nearly half of all poisonings involve children under six years of age; and
Whereas, Poisoning remains a leading cause of death among adults; and
Whereas, The majority of poisoning deaths occur in adults aged 20 to 59; and
Whereas, On September 16, 1961, Congress established "National Poison Prevention Week" and shortly thereafter the Poison Prevention Week Council was organized to coordinate the annual event; and
Whereas, "National Poison Prevention Week" is observed annually during the third week in March to promote public education on identifying poisoning hazards and preventing poisoning emergencies; and
Whereas, If used properly, most consumer products pose no hazard to human health, but if used incorrectly, many common household products, such as pain medicines and cleaning products, can become poisonous; and
Whereas, Most poison exposures happen unintentionally, and only 16% of all poisonings occur from an intentional overdose or misuse of a product or substance; and
Whereas, Across the United States, 57 poison control centers operate to assist the public with poison emergencies and to respond to questions about poison prevention and exposure to poisons; and
Whereas, A state-of-the-art poison control center, the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System, housed at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, operates in this State, and provides free poison consultation, drug information, and poison prevention education to New Jersey residents through the 1-800-222-1222 Poison Help Hotline, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; and
Whereas, The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System promotes "National Poison Prevention Week" to underscore its commitment to protecting State citizen from potentially harmful poisonings; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House declares the week of March 17 through March 23, 2013 as "Poison Prevention Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey, to promote public awareness about the about the dangers of unintentional poisonings, to educate citizens to prevent unintentional poisonings from occurring, and increase awareness of the poisoning prevention and treatment services provided by the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System.
2. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe "Poison Prevention Awareness Week" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Health and the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System.
STATEMENT
This resolution declares the week of March 17 through March 23, 2013 as "Poison Prevention Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey to promote public awareness about the about the dangers of unintentional poisonings, to educate citizens to prevent unintentional poisonings from occurring, and increase awareness of the poisoning prevention and treatment services provided by the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System.
