SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon issued the following announcement on June 19.
If you have lived in your own residence for any considerable amount of time, chances are you know the value of cleaning products. Spills and other accidents happen. When they do, it’s nice to have ingredients like ammonia and bleach on hand.
Many cleaning supplies or household products, however, pose danger to small children. The last thing any parent wants is for their children to be exposed to toxic items. Irritated eyes or throat, skin rash and more lethal symptoms can result from incidental contact.
With that in mind, here are five simple tips on how to poison-proof your home.
1. Teach safety rules early. Very young children should eat or drink only what you put in front of them. Children old enough to find their own food should know only to look in the refrigerator or pantry. As a parent, make the rules clear and keep cleaning products and medicines out of reach and away from food areas.
2. Lock up toxic items. Cleaning products, medicine, beauty products and the like should be kept locked in a cabinet. Cabinet locks and strips commonly sell for between $5 and $10 and can prevent serious conditions.
3. Store toxic items in their original containers. Unfortunately, this tip doesn’t work for all substances and all children–some familiar cleaning products come in containers branded with child-friendly colors, and certain kinds of medicine can seem like candy. Original containers, though, are always better than unmarked containers.
4. Put toxic items away after use. Return household products and medicines to their proper storage place immediately after use. Storage areas ideally should be above the reach of children.
5. Seal containers tightly. Most medicines come in containers that require a complex twist-and-lift maneuver to open. Be sure to re-seal medicines, turn the nozzle of spray products to OFF and take other necessary precautions.
Most of the above steps involve how to keep non-consumable items guarded, out-of-reach and safe from children. Additional items to safeguard include alcohol, toiletries, fertilizers and batteries. Even with these precautions in place, kids can still get hurt; being prepared will help you act quickly and confidently in the event of an emergency.
Original source can be found here.
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