When it comes to safety awareness, there’s one big risk that many don’t know about: poisoning. Many people assume it’s a rare occurrence here in California. Yet poisoning is the leading cause of unintentional death in the U.S., surpassing even car accident-related deaths.

In 2019, there were over 2.1 million poison exposures reported to poison control centers in the U.S. Spreading awareness about poison prevention is critical.

6 Poison Prevention Tips

You might be surprised at how many poison risks are in your household. Some of the most common poison risks include painkillers, household cleaners, and cosmetics.

The following are a few tips for poison prevention around your home:

1. Always put poisonous products away after use – Put potentially poisonous products away immediately after use.
2. Discard poisonous products safely – When throwing away used products that are potentially poisonous, make sure to discard them in a sealed, outdoor container.
3. Keep poisonous products separate from food – You don’t want your food to become contaminated by accident. Don’t store cleaning products in cabinets along with dry foods. Always keep these items separate.
4. Keep poisonous products stored – Household cleaners and medications should never be left out in the open where children or pets can reach them. Always store them in a safe place, such as a medicine cabinet or an under-the-sink cabinet. If you have kids, consider childproof locks.
5. Use original containers when storing poisonous products – Don’t move products to a different container. Keep them in their original containers so everyone knows exactly what they are and what’s in them.
6. Ventilate areas in which you use cleaning products – Using household cleaners full of chemicals in a small room can cause issues if you don’t ventilate it properly. Run fans, open doors, and open windows to make sure the space is properly ventilated.

These are just a few poison prevention tips you can follow at home. For more safety awareness advice, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store.