04/04/2020
So a lot of Corona Virus information going around. But we would like to have some focus on some around the house things while the family is staying at home.
As millions of children are home from school due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), parents are suddenly faced with the challenge of finding alternative daycare options or finding ways to keep children occupied at home. This is creating many challenges for both parents and new caregivers. Keeping kids busy during the day is easier for older children than for younger children under the age of 5, but that doesn't mean teenagers aren't also at risk. Since most unintentional poisonings occur in the home, now is the time for parents to ensure that this new environment is safe. The best way to protect your children from poisons is to do a walk-through of your home and find where you keep all potential poisons.
Poisons in the Kitchen:
Keep all household cleaners stored up and away of children and/or stored in a locked cabinet with a safety latch.
Examples of household cleaners include:
All-purpose cleaners
Bleach
Dishwashing detergent (liquid, powdered, or single-use packets or tablets)
Drain openers and toilet bowl cleaners
Furniture polish
Laundry detergent (liquid, powdered, or single-use packets or tablets)
Spring cleaning has taken on a new urgency this year as people are intensely washing, dusting, and disinfecting homes and offices.
Don't mix cleaning products together to create a stronger effect. Certain combinations could create harmful reactions.
Leave products in their original, labeled containers. Do not transfer cleaning products into a food or beverage container (such as an empty water bottle); someone may swallow it by mistake.
Poisons in the bathroom:
Store all medications out of reached and in a locked cabinet.
Personal hygiene products such as hand sanitizers, nail polish removers, perfume, mouthwash and aftershave may contain alcohol which can be harmful if ingested.
Toothpaste usually contains fluoride and swallowing it can cause upset stomach and other gastrointestinal conditions. In larger amounts, fluoride can lead to more serious conditions.
Poisons in other rooms:
Many houseplants may be harmful. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for a list of potentially poisonous plants. You may want to do without houseplants for a while or, at the very least, keep all houseplants out of reach of children.
Make sure battery covers are secure on remote controls, key fobs, musical books, and greeting cards. Store devices that contain small button-cell batteries out of reach and sight of children. Button batteries can cause severe injury or death if ingested.
In children, alcohol containing beverages can cause low blood sugar, which can lead to seizures and coma.
Ni****ne in ci******es, ci**rs, chewing to***co, and ni****ne gum & patches can cause severe heart and central nervous system problems. Additionally, liquid ni****ne solutions used in e-ci******es can be particularly poisonous if a child ingests it or if it comes in contact with the skin.
Above all, follow all the guidelines and recommendations that are being put out so we can get past this. Stay healthy.
