As careful as people are about preventing poisoning, it still happens more than you might think. In fact, it’s the number one cause of injury death, having killed more people than car accidents. It’s estimated that 50 percent of all poison exposures happen to children under the age of six, while 92% of poison-related deaths occur with adults over the age of 20.
Common causes of poisoning include household cleaning products, cosmetics, painkillers, and certain medications. Here are a few household safety tips that can help with preventing poisonings in your home:
Keep food separate from poisonous items – This ensures that children don’t mistake anything that might be poisonous as food.
Keep indoor plants out of reach – Younger children can and do put anything in their mouths. Some indoor plants can be poisonous if ingested, which is why you need to place them out of reach if you have kids.
Keep poisonous items away from children – Make sure medicine is kept in cabinets that have locks or childproof latches on them. Any detergents or chemical products should be kept out of sight and out of reach. Even when storing them on the top shelf of your garage, keep toxics locked up – children have a habit of climbing.
Put everything back – Once you’ve used something that might be poisonous, such as a medication, a cosmetic item or cleaning product, make sure you return it to its place.
Safely discard poisonous items – All cleaning products, old medications, cosmetics, etc. should be sealed and taken to an outdoor trash can. Don’t just toss them into the nearest wastebasket where a child can access them.
Store poisonous items in original containers – This ensures that even adults won’t get confused over what they’re taking and take something dangerous.
Be sure to follow these safety tips for preventing poisoning in your home. If someone has been poisoned, call the National Poison Control Hotline, 1-800-222-1222 for assistance. For more health tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today.