How to Prevent Accidental Poisoning in the Home

According to the Home Safety Council, poisoning is listed as the second leading cause of accidental injury leading to death in the home. The American Association of Poison Control Centres (AAPCC) found that more than 92 percent of the 2.3 million poison exposures that were reported in the latest year occurred within the home. The Home Safety Council has found that most families are simply not taking the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of poison exposure. What needs to be done? The following 8 suggestions will address this question.

It goes without saying that poison prevention is for everyone in the home, not just for children. The Home Safety Council provides poison prevention advice that can help families keep their homes safer from poisonous products, chemicals and gases. Families with young children should take extra care. By following a few simple guidelines, your entire family can be protected from exposure to poisons in the home.

1. All potentially dangerous products such as everyday household cleaners, prescription medication, anti-freeze and pesticides should have child restraint closures on them. They should also be securely locked up and stored in a high place where children cannot gain easy access. As an added precaution, homes with very young children should consider installing locks on cabinets.

2. Check to make sure that medicines, including prescription medications, have not expired. If they have expired, there are a number of ways of disposing of them. Some would suggest flushing them down the toilet. This is controversial, as some claim it can get into our water supply and contaminate it. Do not dispose of expired medicines along with the normal household waste. It is best to return expired medicines to the pharmacy that dispensed them and ask them to safely dispose of them for you.

3. If you spill any anti-freeze or car oil in the garage or on the driveway, mop it up quickly. These substances can prove very harmful to children and pets if they come into contact with them.

4. Before you attempt to use any products, read the use and storage instructions carefully. Keeping original labels on product containers is important, as they often give important first aid directions, if the need arises. In case of an emergency, you can then present the label to paramedics or doctors. If they know exactly what they are dealing with, they can treat the patient more easily.

5. When carrying out any cleaning around the house, make sure you wear protective gloves at all times. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions before using any kind of chemicals or cleaners.

6. Resist the temptation to mix household products together. The contents of the chemicals could easily react together and produce noxious fumes. This is very dangerous.

7. Place the national poison control hotline phone number next to your phone so that you can locate it easily in an emergency. 1-800-222-1222.

8. Carbon monoxide can kill quickly. To prevent this, have your home heating equipment inspected on an annual basis and install a UL-listed carbon monoxide alarm near every sleeping area.

It is easy to become complacent and think it will happen to someone else, but will never happen to you. However, if you have everyday cleaning supplies within easy reach of children or household pets, then out of natural curiosity, children or pets could stumble across these substances and risk poisoning themselves. The home can quickly become a very dangerous place if simple, precautions are not put in place. The end result could be devastating.

Source:

http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_poison_w001.aspx