| For parents, keeping our kids safe is a constant top | | | | hazard of mercury ingestion if they are broken. |
| priority. But even with the best intentions it's possible | | | | Mercury can emit a poisonous gas and is dangerous |
| to overlook some potentially harmful household | | | | when swallowed, so be sure to clean up any broken |
| poisons. According to the National Academy of | | | | glass thermometers thoroughly and safely.5. |
| Poison Control Centers, 92 percent of all poison | | | | PlantsChildren may find the bright colors and different |
| exposures occur in the home, and 52 percent of | | | | textures of plants irresistible, but some plants can be |
| poison exposures occur in children under the age of | | | | poisonous if touched or eaten. If you're in doubt |
| 6.Following is a list of the most common poisons | | | | about whether or not a plant is poisonous, don't keep |
| among children. Take note of them and make sure | | | | it in your home. The risk is not worth it.You can refer |
| these items are securely out of your child's reach.1. | | | | to the list in the box below for plants that should not |
| Cosmetics and Personal Care ProductsCosmetics | | | | be kept in homes with children. The list is not |
| contain many chemicals, some of which are even | | | | comprehensive, so be sure to seek out safety |
| toxic to adults, but because children are smaller, and | | | | information on the plants in your home to be |
| their metabolic rates are faster, a small amount of | | | | safe.The following plants may be hazardous to your |
| chemical or toxin can cause a serious reaction.Most | | | | child, and should be kept out of reach or not in the |
| poisonings occur when children are not being watched | | | | home at all:* Bird of paradise* Bull nettle* Castor |
| closely, such as when parents are busy making dinner | | | | bean* Chinaberry tree* Crocus* Daffodil* Deadly |
| or entertaining friends. Keep all cosmetics and | | | | nightshade* Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)* Foxglove* |
| personal care products in cabinets that children | | | | Glory lily* Hemlock* Holly berry* Indian tobacco* Iris* |
| cannot reach or are locked with child-proof | | | | Jimsonweed* Lantana* Larkspur* Lily of the valley* |
| closures.This includes everything from shampoo, | | | | Marijuana* Mescal bean* Mexicantes* Mistletoe* |
| shaving cream and toothpaste (the fluoride in a tube | | | | Morning glory* Mountain laurel* Night-blooming |
| of toothpaste can be detrimental if swallowed by | | | | jasmine* Nutmeg* Oleander* Philodendron* Poison |
| small children) to mascara, lipsticks and perfumes. | | | | ivy* Poison sumac* Pokeweed* Poppy* Potato* |
| Even if you don't think it's dangerous, play it safe and | | | | Privet* Rhododendron* Rhubarb* Water hemlock* |
| keep it securely stashed away.2. Cleaning | | | | Wisteria6. Diaper Care, Acne Preparations, |
| SubstancesThis one is a bit more obvious: cleaning | | | | AntisepticsChildren may suck on a tube of diaper |
| products are ripe with caustic detergents, harsh | | | | cream or acne medication. These accidents typically |
| chemicals and toxic residues. Should a child inhale | | | | occur because the items have been left out near a |
| cleaner fumes or put an object in their mouth that | | | | child's reach.Some topical products, such as those |
| contains cleanser residue, the effects can be | | | | containing methyl salicylate (oil of |
| lethal.Many cleaners also contain corrosive agents that | | | | wintergreen)-ingesting1 teaspoon of some strengths |
| can burn the skin on contact, and other products, like | | | | of methyl salicylate can equal more than 20 adult |
| antifreeze, taste sweet so a child may not know it's | | | | aspirin tablets-camphorated oil, pennyroyal oil, oil of |
| dangerous to drink. And, the bright colors are | | | | eucalyptus, and other concentrated essential oils can |
| attractive to a child-Windex looks exactly like blue | | | | be extremely toxic to small children.As with other |
| Kool-Aid, for example.As with cosmetics and personal | | | | questionable household items, keep all creams, |
| care items, always keep cleansers out of the reach | | | | ointments and preparations, even those that you use |
| of children. You can also quit using them altogether if | | | | on your child like diaper cream, in an out-of-reach, |
| you opt to clean your house with PerfectClean terry | | | | locked or child-proofed cabinet.7. Cough and Cold |
| wipes and mops, whose ultramicrofiber construction | | | | PreparationsAntihistamines, cough suppressants, |
| enables the clothes, mops and dusters to reach deep | | | | expectorants and decongestants are often flavored |
| into microscopic crevices (NO other cleaning tool | | | | like candy and may be mistakenly taken by children. |
| available even comes close!) and remove everything | | | | Keep them, along with other medications, in a locked |
| in their path: all forms of dirt, dust, hair, dander, and | | | | cabinet.When giving your child cough or cold medicine, |
| the biological contaminants too small to see with the | | | | be sure that you are using the proper dose, and that |
| naked eye-without the need for chemical | | | | another adult has not already given some to the child. |
| cleansers!PerfectClean products are 100% safe, and | | | | If used incorrectly, cough and cold medications may |
| are meant to be used dry or dampened with some | | | | cause agitation or drowsiness, and in large doses may |
| water, which is ideal for homes with small children | | | | effect blood pressure and heart rhythm.8. |
| where poisoning is a major concern.3. Pain Medicine | | | | PesticidesIndoor pesticides, like mouse baits and |
| Fever ReducersOne study found that up to 40 | | | | roach traps, should be kept in areas where children |
| percent of pediatric household poisonings occurred | | | | and toddlers (and pets) are not allowed.According to |
| while a parent was using the product. Pain | | | | Dr. Mark McDonald, a pediatric intensivist at Palmetto |
| medications (or other medications) may look like | | | | Health Children's Hospital, "Pesticides can quickly kill a |
| candy to a small child, but their developing bodies | | | | child. Never pour pesticides into other containers," he |
| cannot handle the adult-sized dosages and will | | | | added, citing a case in which a parent poured plant |
| process the drug much differently than an adult.For | | | | fertilizer borrowed from a neighbor into a plastic soda |
| this reason, it's never a good idea to encourage your | | | | bottle. The parent's child took a drink from the bottle |
| child to take a medication by saying that it "tastes | | | | in the garage and, despite being rushed to the |
| like candy."If you take a medication, always be sure | | | | emergency room, was brain-dead in 17 hours.9. |
| to take out only your necessary does and then put | | | | VitaminsBelieve it or not, vitamins are a common |
| the rest in a secure location. The medicine cabinet is | | | | source of poisoning for children. The pills can, again, |
| one of the worst places because children can easily | | | | look like candy, and the doses and concentrations of |
| climb up to them via the sink and open the door.And | | | | nutrients and vitamins can overwhelm a child's |
| don't rely on child-proof containers. Studies have | | | | system.Treat all vitamins and supplements like drugs |
| found that children can invariably get them open if | | | | and keep them out of your child's reach. And never |
| given enough time.Over-the-counter (OTC) pain | | | | give your child vitamins meant for adults.10. |
| relievers can also be dangerous. Never give your child | | | | Gastrointestinal preparationsSmall doses or sips of |
| any medication, even if it's OTC, that is not | | | | these preparations, though perhaps soothing for |
| specifically approved to be safe for children.4. Coins | | | | adults, can poison a child. These are another category |
| and ThermometersThese objects present choking | | | | of household items that should always be kept in a |
| hazards to small children, who will often put small | | | | secure location that your child cannot get into, and |
| objects in their mouths immediately upon finding | | | | should be used immediately (not left out on a |
| them left out on the floor or counter top.If a coin | | | | counter where your child may be tempted by |
| larger than a penny is swallowed, an X-ray is | | | | it).From the FREE e-newsletter, the Web's #1 most |
| generally needed to be sure it has passed through | | | | read newsletter with original articles in all 6 areas of |
| the esophagus.Thermometers represent another | | | | life leading to complete wellness. |