The month of March is National Poison Prevention Month.  The Maplewood Health Department is offering free poison prevention kits, specifically for babysitters and caregivers of young children, throughout the month until supplies last.

Each kit contains educational information on childhood poison prevention provided by the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJ PIES) along with a calibrated medication spoon for safe medication dosing.

While each kit includes the NJ PIES 24-hour hotline number, "It is important for parents and caregivers, especially babysitters to have the NJ PIES hotline number in their cell phone in case of emergency." according to Alicia Gambino, Director of Health Education, NJ PIES. The number is 1-800-222-1222.  Their website is www.njpies.org

So before you go out to dinner and a movie and schedule a babysitter, stop by Town Hall to pick up a poison prevention kit or call the Health Department for more information (973) 762-8120 x4300.