Poster Contest for National Poison Prevention Week

“Mr. Yuk to the Rescue!” is the theme for the Washington Poison Center (WAPC) 2014 poster contest. The winning poster will be part of the Poison Prevention Week campaign, celebrated across the state March 16-27.

Mr. Yuk rescues children from accidents involving medications, household chemicals, pesticides, bites, stings and more. The Poison Center is looking for young artists to create eye-catching posters that highlight poison safety awareness. All 6- to 12-year-olds in Washington state are invited to participate.

This marks the fourth year that the contest is sponsored by the generosity of Umpqua Bank. We greatly appreciate their commitment to educate children about poison prevention. The top prize earns a $500 check card, a visit from Mr. Yuk, and the winning design will be featured as the poster for Poison Prevention Week in Washington state. The classroom, club or organization of the winning child will also receive a $100 prize. Four runners-up will each receive a $100 check card. The first 50 children submitting posters will receive a Mr. Yuk t-shirt, but everybody is a winner because all contest participants will receive a small gift from Mr. Yuk in the mail!

WAPC will accept poster entries postmarked between September 13, 2013 and January 6, 2014.

“He doesn’t have a Yuk-Signal or wear a cape, but you can count on Mr. Yuk coming to the rescue when someone’s been poisoned,” said Jim Williams, Executive Director of the WAPC. Remember his number: 1-800-222-1222. For more information on the poster contest, including the contest entry form and rules, visit http://www.wapc.org.

The Washington Poison Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that prevents harm from poisoning through expertise, collaboration and professional and public education. The national poison hotline, 1-800-222-1222, is available 24/7 and will connect you to specially-trained pharmacists, nurses and poison specialists. Calls to the Poison Center are free and confidential (however, a $45 credit card fee will apply to calls regarding pets). Services are available for non-English speakers and for the deaf and hearing-impaired. For more information, visit http://www.wapc.org.

Congress established National Poison Prevention Week more than 40 years ago to raise awareness of unintentional poisoning. Over one million incidences of poisoning involving children are reported each year. Many of these occurrences could have been prevented: poison centers organize events during this special week to educate parents about household product use, how to prevent poison-related injuries, and what to do in the event of a poison emergency.

The Washington Poison Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, prevents harm from poisonings by being the primary resource for poison treatment, education and prevention. Reachable 24/7, the national poison hotline: 1-800-222- 1222 will connect you to specially-trained nurses, pharmacists and poison specialists. Poison help is always free and confidential. Services are available for people with hearing problems and for non-English speakers.