title: Consumer perception of household hazardous materials.
abstract: We evaluated consumer perception of household hazardous materials (HHM) to identify links between storage of HHMs and consumer perception.
  
  
  METHODS
  357 telephone surveys were conducted within one county to determine home storage location (high, low, unknown) of 10 substances common to pediatric poisoning. Questions addressed look-alikes, poison information resources, disposal/recycling practices, and the transfer of cleaning products to other containers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prescription medications were stored in lower elevations than vitamins with iron and OTC ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Products common in poisoning were often stored at low elevations. Poison center (PCC) awareness was modest; 35% stated the PCC would be first choice; 43% chose 911. Nineteen percent indicated they transferred cleaning items to other containers, usually bleach (6.7%), but 29% transferred prescription medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results will be utilized to develop a community-specific educational campaign targeted toward lack of awareness of the poison center and reinforcement of proper storage and disposal practices.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Michigan Regional Poison Control Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Smolinske
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control; D001364:Awareness; D003358:Cosmetics; D005191:Family Characteristics; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006795:Household Products; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D010465:Perception; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011041:Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite