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Home & Garden Articles
Poison-Proof Your Home
Fri 13 Feb 2009 - 13:23
Poison-Proof Your Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dr._Mark_Cesta]Dr. Mark Cesta
Many of the items in our homes can pose a significant health risk to children, and while household cleaners and medicines top the list, there are plenty of other potential problem-causing products around most households.
The fact is, even cosmetics, garden products and certain houseplants can pose significant health risks to children. If not kept out of reach, they could be swallowed or inhaled by a curious child. Even some products can lead to injuries simply by coming in contact with one's skin.
The best advice? Don't let another day go by before "poison-proofing" your home. Here's how to get started.
First, take an inventory of dangerous products around the home and store them in areas far out of the reach of children. These include cosmetics, nail care products, and perfumes; arts and crafts products; bleach, dishwater detergent, drain and toilet bowl cleaners, furniture polish, and other cleaning products. Hazardous products also include windshield washer fluid and antifreeze; turpentine, kerosene, lye, lighter fluid, paint thinners and solvents; garden products, particularly insect killers, as well as batteries and mothballs.
Besides keeping these items far out of reach, parents would be well advised to read all product labels for caution statements. Adults also should be familiar with how to use the product correctly and first aid instructions. Keep items in their original labeled containers. Never store poisonous products in food containers. Also, use "Mr. Yuk" stickers and teach children to recognize them.
Here are a few other helpful tips when dealing with dangerous household products.
Look for words that signal the level of poison danger, particularly in pesticides. The word "caution" on a pesticide label means the product is slightly toxic. "Warning" means the product is moderately toxic. "Danger" means the product is highly toxic.
Don't forget your garage when poison-proofing your home. Keep poisons and flammables out of reach of children. For example, kerosene, lamp oil, gasoline, and fertilizers are all poisonous when ingested. Many products kept in garages also are fire hazards.
Alcohol, medicines (including vitamins), cigarettes, and dietary supplements also should be kept far out of the sight and reach of children. Never refer to medicine as "candy" and keep all medicines in their original labeled containers. When purchasing non-prescription medicines, make sure they have child-resistant tops.
Every day you let pass without poison-proofing your home is another day a child may be at risk. Remember, all it takes is one curious act by a child to create a serious medical condition.
Dr. Mark Cesta is the Medical Director of Emergency Health Centre at Willowbrook. If you have a medical question for Dr. Cesta, contact him at [mailto:mcesta@theehc.com]mcesta@theehc.com. http://www.emergencyhealthcentre.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Mark_Cesta http://EzineArticles.com/?Poison-Proof-Your-Home&id=1965579
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