Protecting Your Family from Unintentional Poisoning





In 2004, more than 2.4 million exposures to human toxins were reported to poison control centers in the United States. Almost all of them occurred in homes, and 85% percent of poison exposures were unintentional. More than half of them involved children under six years old (National Safety Council, 2005). As a parent, that is a very frightening statistic.

If you look around your home, you might be surprised at the amount of generic products that can put your family at risk of unintentional poisoning. According to the National Safety Council, U.S. consumers purchase more than a quarter of a million different potentially hazardous household products for medication, cleaning, cosmetics, and environmental control.

 For example, many of the substances involved in poisoning of children 6 years old and younger included adhesives or glues, arts, crafts, or office supplies, batteries, chemicals, cleaning substances, cosmetics and personal care, deodorizers, dyes, fertilizers, paints and stripping agents, pesticides, pharmaceuticals or vitamins, plants, polishes and waxes, and tobacco products ((National Safety Council, 2005).

What do you do to protect you or your family from toxic substances? Start by being aware of the potential hazards in your home, and take steps to poison-proof your home. For example, keep products in their original containers and out of the reach of children. And while not everyone is able to prevent poisoning, keep the nationwide poison control center's number (1-800-222-1222) and your doctor's number handy. Also be aware of the National Safety Council's first aid procedures for poisoning, which can be found at http://www.nsc.org.

Donna Davis, senior producer, Family Album Radio, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida

Child-Proofing Your Yard

Once your child first pulls himself or herself onto two feet, normal housekeeping rules fly out the window as every parent makes child-proofing a high priority. These precautions become even more elaborate as the child becomes more mobile and more creative. But experts at the University of Florida point out that a backyard poses just as many hazards—but hazards of a different sort than a home.

Toddlers or pre-toddlers are naturally curious, and a yard provides a wealth of opportunity for these miniature Marco Polos. Their natural agility makes them adept at climbing or getting into places you thought were secure. Small children can move very quickly!

Before you let your child wander about your yard—or anyone else's—take a moment to walk around and explore it from a child's eye view. You'll find there are some things you'll want to move or block access to. Are there any ladders to climb? Any porch furniture to crawl onto? Also, young children will put everything in their mouths, from plant leaves to the soft dust of a powdered insecticide.

Buckets are a special hazard to toddlers, especially if there is any liquid inside. Toddlers are poorly balanced at best; if they lean over to look inside, they frequently topple in. They can drown in less than an inch of liquid in a bucket.

Even with eliminating all the yard hazards you can identify, you'll still need to watch as your toddler explores your yard.

Suzanna Smith, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida