Mr. Yuck may not be as popular as he once was, but the disgusted green man of poison sticker fame still has his uses.

More than 7,000 Wyoming residents call the state's poison center every year, seeking advice for accidental exposures to toxins, and more than half of the poisoning victims are children under 6, the Wyoming Department of Health reported Friday. Natrona County alone accounted for more than 900 of the calls.

Whether posting Mr. Yuck stickers on hazardous items or completing regular inventories of household dangers, parents still need to be on the watch for potential toxins that can harm their children.

Among the most common hazards to youth are medications. Nearly 600 calls to the state's poison control center in 2004 were in response to accident intake of analgesics, like ibuprofen and aspirin. Other drugs frequently associated with poisonings include cold and cough medicines, diaper and rash products, antidepressants, vitamins, sedatives, antacids, antihistamines and hormones, like oral contraceptives.

But drugs aren't the only items that can be toxic to young children. Household cleaners accounted for more than 542 poison control center calls in 2004, while ingestion of cosmetics also led to more than 500 calls.

Chemicals, cleaners and medications are common hazards that most people know to keep out of children's hands, but other potential toxins may not be as obvious. For example, makeup can be poisonous for children, as can many types of plants. Mouthwash, which usually contains alcohol, can be harmful to children if swallowed in large amounts. Food products that aren't meant for children also can be dangerous. Honey, for example, can cause botulism in children under 1 year old.

Adults aren't immune to accidental poisonings, either. Mixing cleaning products, especially those containing ammonia and bleach, can produce toxic gases. Unlabeled medicines can lead to accidental overdoses or mistaken use of medications.

The National Safe Kids Campaign offers a number of tips for keeping homes safe from poisons, including keeping medicines in their original containers, locking all potential poisons out of reach of children, and knowing which household plants can be poisonous.

The Wyoming Department of Health also encourages all residents to keep the poison control center's toll-free hotline - (800) 222-1222 - near every phone in the house. Operators at the center can walk residents through home treatment of about 75 percent of all potential poisonings. Patients who need medical attention are referred to their nearest hospital, and the poison control center will call the hospital's emergency department to let doctors know a patient is coming.

"I strongly recommend that people have this number handy," State Health Officer Dr. Brent Sherard said in a press release. "This is a wonderful service for state residents, emergency medical technicians, physicians, nurses and hospitals."

Keep kids safe from poisons

* Know which household products are poisonous.

* Buy child-resistant packaging.

* Don't leave potentially dangerous household products unattended while in use.

* Don't create cleaning solutions by mixing products.

* Always read labels and follow exact directions.

* Keep all products in original packages.

* Know which plants in your home are poisonous.

* Throw away old medicines.

* Take inventory of potential poisons in the home regularly.

* If you suspect a possible poisoning, call (800) 222-1222.

- National Safe Kids Campaign

Staff writer Jenni Dillon can be reached at (307) 266-0619 or Jenni.Dillon@casperstartribune.net.