The number of poisonous household items in your home probably rarely crosses your mind. Yet poison control centers across the country receive over 2 million calls annually relating to potential exposure to poisons. Here are a few facts and tips about poisons in the home so you can keep your family safe from all types of household dangers.
Most of those emergency calls involve children under the age of four. Yet children are not the only people subject to poisoning. Roughly 77% of poison exposures are unintentional and 66% of poisonings occur in adolescents and adults.
In adults 20 years and older, the deadliest household products are medication (these include pain relievers, sedatives, anti-psychotics, antidepressants, cardiovascular drugs and hypnotics) according to the National Capital Poison Center.
For children under the age of 6, cosmetics and personal care products, household cleaners and pain medications were the largest contributors to poisonings. To protect children from ingesting any medications:
- Never refer to medication as “candy.”
- Refrain from opening medication bottles in front of them.
- Store dangerous products in locked cupboards or drawers.
- Don’t underestimate the power of a child’s curiosity
Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric wants your home to be safe with harmful household materials safely stored away from children and pets.
Keep poisonous products, toxic liquids and medications in their original packaging. Windex, antifreeze, bleach, insecticides, pills and other items are indistinguishable from safe substances without proper packaging.
Never mix household products, as they can form dangerous gasses.
We hope these examples of poisonous household items make you more aware of the dangers stored underneath your roof. Accidents may seem unlikely, but it only takes one to create severe or life-threatening situation.
If you have an emergency call the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
