Prevention

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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

Although Carbon Monoxide is not one of the substances most frequently involved in human exposures, it does KILL more people than any other poison.