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Poison
Safety |
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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 poisonings 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.
Crawling around on your
hands and knees to see what
would be in reach of their
tiny but curious hands. |
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Checklist of Common
Household Poisons: |
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Kitchen: Under the sink
and in cupboards
Cleaning solutions and
waxes
Powder and liquid
detergent, drain cleaner /
lye
Carpet and upholstery
cleaners
Ammonia
Oven cleaner
Cooking oils, non-stick
sprays
Food supplements containing
iron |
Bedroom or purse:
Sleeping drugs / medicine
Jewelry cleaner
Cosmetics
Perfume |
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Laundry room:
Bleach
Soap and detergent
Disinfectant
Dye
Spot remover
Fabric softener |
Closets, Attic and
Storage places
Rat poison and insecticides
Moth balls and spray |
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Bathrooms:
Acetaminophen and aspirin
All drugs, pills, medicine
of all types, cough syrups
Iron pills, vitamins
Shampoo and other hair
products
Lotions and creams
Nail polish and remover
Deodorant
Toilet bowl cleaner
Pine oil and bath oil
Soap
Rubbing alcohol
Hairspray
Cosmetics
Room deodorizer and air
fresheners
Camphor related products
muscle pain relievers
Personal care products |
Garage, Basement, Workshop
Acids and alkalis,
corrosives
Kerosene
Windshield washer fluid
Insecticides and weed
killers
Gasoline , motor oil and
brake fluid
Charcoal lighter fluid
Turpentine, paint, paint
remover and thinner,
varnish
Antifreeze
Car cleaning supplies
Caulking
Pool supplies of all kinds,
chlorine, pH adjusters
Drain cleaners |
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General:
Alcoholic beverages
Batteries
Lamp or candle oils
Potpourri
Tobacco products including
butts and tobacco chew
juice
Glues and adhesives
Flaking paint
Repainted toys
Broken plaster
Carbon monoxide
Air fresheners |
Outdoors:
Plants
Flowers especially azaleas,
lily of the valley,
monkshood, florist flowers,
hyacinths, hydrangeas,
rhododendrons, rhubarb
leaves
BBQ grill – propane,
charcoal ashes
Mushrooms:
To
be safe, 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 that looks like a bulb |
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Some poisonous mushrooms
may not have any of these
characteristics and some
safe mushrooms may have
some of these as well. So,
never eat a mushroom if you
are not sure it is safe. |
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Tips for Parents |
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Teach children to ask
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 a
bottle. Children tend to
emulate adults.
Let children watch you read
the instructions and
measure the proper dosage.
Never give medicine in the
dark.
Post the poison Control
Center telephone number by
every phone.
Keep a bottle of Ipecac in
the medicine cabinet. Read
the instructions carefully
before administering.
Sometimes Ipecac is
contraindicated for certain
poisonings.
Share this information with
family members and
babysitters.
Keep your household
Safe
Used water based latex
paints instead of hazardous
oil based paints.
Keep rodent and insect raps
out of reach
Never mix household
products; it could cause a
dangerous chemical
reaction.
Be familiar with plants,
trees and shrubs around
your house.
Wipe up all spills and
leaks in the garage,
carport, basement or
utility area. Dispose of
cleaning rags properly.
Use powders or pellet
pesticide instead of sprays
and only use them when
children and pets are not
nearby.
Avoid having toxic
substances in the house.
Look for safer alternate
products that do the same
thing.
Store products in their
original containers and
keep all medicine and
chemicals locked in a
cabinet or out of the reach
of children.
Take either the child or
the product 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
medications or products in
the trash.
Keep household items and
food stored separately to
avoid confusion and
possible contamination.
Recycle hazardous waste
such as batteries and motor
oil instead of throwing
them away. |
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Signs of use |
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Unusual behavior
Product container nearby
Smell of chemical odors
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See flames or smoke
Medicine cabinet open
Damaged plants |
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Symptoms |
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Sudden chest or abdominal
pain or cramps
Painful crying
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Chills or shaking
Cold, clammy skin, pale or
bluish skin
Difficulty breathing
Burns around mouth lips and
tongue |
Convulsions
Coma
Disorientation, dizziness,
drowsiness
Slurred speech
Lack of coordination
Loss of consciousness |
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Emergency Action |
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If you suspect that someone
has consumed or has been in
contact with a poisonous
substance contact your
local poison control center
right away. The phone
number is in the front of
the telephone book. If not,
call your local emergency
room or doctor immediately.
Do not wait for symptoms to
develop. Call immediately |
