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 Poison Safety
Each year over 1 million children are poisoned by
household products, plants, and drugs. Most of them are preschoolers and occur
before lunch and supper when children are hungry or thirsty. Most poisoning
occur when products are being used, not while they are stored. Children do not
have fully-developed taste buds like adults, so just because something doesn't
taste good, doesn't keep children away. If there is a toddler in the house,
keep in mind that they have the ability to climb.
Checklist of Common Household Poisons
Below are only some of the poisons that can be found in the
home. Inspect your own home, read labels, and consult with product
manufacturers, your doctor, or the Poison Control Center if you have any
questions or concerns.
Kitchen
-
Cleaning solutions & waxes
-
Powder and liquid detergent
-
Cleanser & scouring powder
-
Drain
cleaner/lye
-
Carpet & upholstery cleaner
-
Ammonia
Bedroom or Purse
-
Sleeping drugs/medicine
-
Jewelry cleaner
-
Cosmetics
-
Perfume
Laundry Room
- Oven
cleaner
- Cooking oils, non-stick
sprays
- Food supplements containing iron
- Bluing, dye
- Bleach
- Soap & detergent
- Disinfectant
- Spot
remover
Closets, Attic, & Storage Places
- Rat
Poison
- Moth balls & spray
Outdoors
- Plants
- Flowers
- BBQ grills
General
- Alcoholic beverages
-
Batteries
- Lamp or candle
oils
- Potpourri
- Tobacco products
- Glue, adhesives
- Flaking paint
- Repainted toys
- Broken plaster
- Carbon Monoxide
Mushrooms
- Avoid mushrooms with:
- Warts
- Scales on the cap
- White gills
- Light-colored inner cap
- A ring on the lower part of the stem
- A base like a bulb
Bathroom
- Acetaminophen, aspirin
- All drugs and pills, medicine (cough syrup)
- Iron pills, vitamins with iron
- Shampoo, wave lotion and spray
- Lotions and creams
- Nail polish and remover
-
Deodorant
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Pine oil and bath oil
-
Soap
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hairspray
- Cosmetics
- Room deodorizer, air fresheners
- Camphor
- Personal care products
Garage, Basement
- Acids
- Kerosene
- Windshield washer solvent
- Bug killer/Weed killer
- Gasoline/Motor oil
- Charcoal lighter fluid
- Turpentine, paint, paint remover/thinner
- Antifreeze (smells sweat and attracts pets)
- Car cleaning supplies
- Caulking
Tips For Parents
- Teach children to ask for permission before eating anything like berries
or mushrooms found outside.
- Never refer to medicine as candy.
- Never take medicine in front of children and never drink medicine from the
bottle. Children tend to imitate adults.
- Let children watch you read the instructions and measure the proper
dosage.
- Never give medicine in the dark.
- Post the Poison Control Centers number by every telephone.
- keep bottle of Ipecac in the medicine cabinet and in the glove compartment
of your vehicle.
- Share this information with older siblings, relatives, and babysitters.
Keep Your Household Safe
- Use water-based latex paint instead of hazardous oil-based paint.
- Keep rodent or insect traps out of reach.
- Never mix household products, it could cause a chemical reaction.
- Be familiar with plants, trees, and shrubs around your house.
- Wipe up all spills and puddles in the garage, carport, basement, or
utility areas.
- Use powders or pellet pesticides and herbicides instead of sprays and only
use them when children and pets are not nearby.
- Avoid having unnecessary toxic substances in the house.
- Store products in their original containers and keep all medicines and
chemicals locked up in a cabinet out of reach of children.
- Take either the product or the child with you if you have to leave the
room even for a moment.
- Pour old medications down the drain or toilet, rinse the container, and
dispose of it. Never throw medication or products in the trash.
- Keep household items and food stored separately to avoid confusion.
- Recycle hazardous waste such as batteries and motor oil instead of
throwing it away.
Signs of Use
- Unusual behavior
- Product container nearby
- Smell chemical
odors
- See flames or smoke
- Medicine cabinet is open
- Damaged plants
- Unconscious
- Not breathing
- Pale/bluish
skin
Symptoms
- Sudden chest or abdominal pain/cramps
- Painful crying
- Chills or shaking
- Unusual thirst
- Cold & clammy skin
- Disorientation
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty breathing
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Lack of coordination
- Burns around mouth
- Convulsions, coma
- Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
Emergency Action
If you suspect that someone has consumed or been in contact with a poisonous
substance contact the Poison Control Center right away. The phone number is
usually listed in the front of the telephone book, if not call your local
emergency room or doctor immediately.
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