Reducing the risk of poison exposures should be on the forefront of the minds of
parents and guardians now that schools are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Approximately 2 million poison exposures are recorded in the United States alone and according to U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57 percent of these cases are children under 6 years of age. Unfortunately, many of these poison exposures happen at home.
Poisonous products are readily found inside our homes as cleaning products, and medications. They are commonly kept in places that children have access to like kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, basements, garages, and even inside bedrooms.
Here are some tips to remember to keep your family safe from poisonings:
Keep poisonous substances out of reach.
Children are curious. Cleaning products and liquid detergents can be easily reached and mistaken for bottled juices. Keeping them in hard to reach places is ideal. Medications due to their size, shape, and color are often mistaken for candy by children. Keeping medications out of sight and out of their reach is recommended.
Observe proper disposal.
Decrease the opportunity for children to access poisonous substances by removing empty or near-empty cleaning containers from the house. Dispose of expired and old medications instead of keeping them in the home. This decreases the chance for children to access them.
Store food and household cleaners in separate places.
Unintended contamination is one of the most common causes of poison exposure for both children and adults. Be sure to store food and beverages away from your cleaning products. Keeping them in separate places reduces the chance of accidental ingestion due to contamination.
Follow directions when taking and giving medicines.
Many people keep over the counter (OTC) medications at home. Before giving and taking OTC products, read the labels and follow the instructions. Accidental poisonings can occur by taking higher than the recommended dose of products sold over the counter. Consult with a pharmacist or your physician with questions.
Utilize community resources.
The poison control center has a hotline that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number is 1-800-222-1222. Memorize this number or place it on or near every home telephone plus save it on your cell phone. Contact these experts immediately when you know or suspect that someone in your home is experiencing a poisoning.
Following these simple tips will keep your family members safe from poisonings. For
even more lifestyle tips join my online community and get your copy of The FAB
Lifestyle Starter Kit at www.DrJamieHardy.com/starterkit.