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Follow these checklist rules so that you can do your part in preventing accidental poisonings in your home.
HOME SAFETY
General Storage
- Keep all products in original containers.
- Store sprays, fingernail solutions, hair care products, mouthwash, perfumes, cosmetics, powders, sachets, etc, out of reach of children.
- Never store food and household cleaners together.
- Install child safety latches on all drawers and cabinets containing harmful products.
- Anticipate your child’s curiosity and skills. Remove household products such as detergents and drain cleaners from under the sink.
- Keep bleaches, soaps, cleaners, fabric softeners, bluing agents, and sprays out of reach of children.
- Store pesticides, gasoline, turpentine, paints, paint products, car products, and garage products out of reach and out of sight of children. Lock up these products.
- Never transfer products like bleach, gasoline, insecticides or other cleaning agents to containers such as a soft drink bottle, cup or bowl that would attract a child or pet.
- Keep alcoholic beverages out of reach of children.
- Empty ashtrays and keep them out of reach of children.
- Keep paint in good condition.
- Buy potentially poisonous products only when needed and in the amount required for the job.
- Always prepare and use products according to label directions.
KITCHEN
- Never store food and household cleaners together.
- Avoid keeping medicines on counter tops or easy to reach areas.
- Do not store medicines in the refrigerator door. Put them out of sight of children
- Anticipate your child’s curiosity and skills. If you have a crawling infant, keep household products stored above the floor level, not beneath the kitchen sink.
BATHROOM
- Request safety-lock tops on all prescription drugs.
- Regularly clean out the medicine cabinet
- Keep all products and medicines in original containers.
- Do not take medicines in front of your child. Children love to imitate their parents.
- Never call medicine “candy.”
- If you wear glasses, put them on to read the label before giving medicine.
- Never give medicine that is not labeled for the person or is not labeled at all.
- Never give medicine in the dark.
- If you are interrupted while using a medicine or household product, take it or the child with you. It only takes a few seconds for your child to get into it.
- Store medicines, sprays, fingernail solutions, hair-care products, cosmetics, mouthwash, etc, out of reach.
BEDROOM
- Avoid keeping medicines in or on bedside tables.
- Keep perfumes, cosmetics, powders and sachets out of reach.
LAUNDRY AREA
- Keep bleaches, soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, bluing agents and sprays out of reach.
- Store products in original containers.
GARAGE/SHED/BARN
- Store pesticides, gasoline, turpentine, paints, paint products and car products in a locked area.
- Keep all products in original containers.
- Keep household cleaners, bug sprays, medicines and garage products out of reach and out of sight of children. Lock up these products.
GENERAL HOUSEHOLD
- Never transfer products like bleach, gasoline, insecticides or other household cleaning agents to another container such as a soft drink bottle, cup or bowl that would attract a child or pet.
- Keep alcoholic beverages out of reach.
- Empty ashtrays and keep them out of reach.
- Place household plants out of reach.
- Keep paint in good repair.
- Buy potentially poisonous products only when needed and in the amount required for the job.
- Always prepare and use products according to label directions.
- Be alert for repeat poisoning. A child who has swallowed a poison is more likely to become poisoned again within a year.
PESTICIDE SAFETY TIPS
- Read the label before buying or using these products and follow the directions.
- Do not apply more than the specified amount.
- Keep pesticides away from food and dishes
- Do not smoke while spraying.
- Keep children and pets away from sprayed areas 24-48 hours.
- Avoid breathing fumes.
- Never spray outdoors on a windy day.
- Lock up chemicals in their original containers with proper labels.
PLANT SAFETY
- Teach children never to put leaves, stems, bark, seed, nuts, flowers or berries into their mouth.
- Know the botanical name of house and yard plants and trees.
- Keep poisonous house plants out of reach of young children.
- Never eat a wild plant or mushroom unless you are positive it is safe.
- Do not assume a plant is safe because birds or other wildlife eat it.
- Cooking may not destroy toxic chemicals in plants.
- Store bulbs and seeds out of sight and out of reach of children.
CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY
- Have heating systems inspected annually
- Service gas, oil or kerosene space heaters annually. Allow for good ventilation when in use.
- Do not use ovens and grills as heat sources.
- Do not idle automobiles in a garage or enclosed area.
- Obtain battery back-up carbon monoxide alarms for the home and place near sleeping areas.
- If exposure is expected, get to fresh air immediately.
BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL POISONINGS
- Remain calm. Don’t panic
- Remember most chemical and biological agents have effective treatment.
- If you are inside and the event is outside, stay indoors and turn off all ventilation, close windows and doors.
- If you are inside and the event is inside, move quickly outside; cover all exposed skin, your mouth and nose.
- If you are outside and the event is outside, cover all exposed skin, your nose and mouth.
- Protect yourself before approaching a victim.
Substances Most Frequently Involved In Human Exposures
- Medications
- Cleaning Products
- Cosmetics and Personal Care Items
- Foreign Bodies
- Bites/envenimations
- Pesticides
- Plants
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