Poison Prevention
Each year in the U.S., thousands of people are accidentally poisoned. They often
require emergency care. Poisonings can involve carbon monoxide fumes, cleaning
products, medicines, vitamins and other household chemicals. Young children and senior
citizens are often the victims.
Handling and Storing Toxic Chemicals
Most homes have cleaning products, lawn chemicals, insecticides, paint thinners, and
medicines. When used for the right purpose, these products make our lives easier and
happier. But when they are used the wrong way or accidentally swallowed by a curious
child, these chemicals can cause serious problems or death.
Tips on poison prevention:
-
Protect your family from carbon monoxide. Install a
detector near bedrooms in your
home. Have your furnace inspected every fall.
-
Store chemicals and medicines in their original containers. These containers list
information that can help in case of a poisoning. Using drinking glasses, cups or
soda cans to store medicines and other chemicals can lead to poisonings.
-
Read and follow label directions. Select products that are safe for your home and
for nature. If you have questions about the use and disposal of a product, call the
manufacturer at the number on the label.
-
Buy only as much chemical as you need for the job. Although a larger amount may be
cheaper, storing left over chemicals may be dangerous.
-
Never mix products that contain chlorine bleach with products that contain
acids or ammonia.
Mixing these chemicals creates deadly chlorine gas.
-
Call the Wisconsin Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) if you have questions about a
possible poisoning. Put the number near each phone in your home.
Tips to prevent childhood poisonings:
-
Store dangerous
chemicals in cabinets that are locked or too high to be reached by
small children.
-
Store vitamins, iron
pills, and medicine in locked cabinets. Hide the key.
Get rid of expired or unwanted medications through a local pharmaceutical
clean sweep.
-
Buy products in
childproof containers.
-
Learn about the plants in your home and yard. Some common
poisonous plants are philodendrons, poinsettias and holly. Loan dangerous house
plants to someone else or take them to work until your toddler is older.
Living in a Home with Lead-Based Paint
If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead paint or varnish.
Dust or chips from lead paint can easily poison preschool-age children. Children
under 3 years old are at highest risk. They can be lead poisoned if they play near
windows or in bare soil with flaking paint. They can also be poisoned if they get
dust on their fingers and toys and then put them in their mouths.
Children who are exposed to lead can have life-long problems with learning, growth and
behavior. An adult who is exposed to lead can have problems with blood pressure and
trouble getting pregnant.
Tips on Lead:
- Have preschool-age children tested for lead. Lead poisoned children don't look
sick. The only way to know if they are lead poisoned is to have their blood tested. Your doctor, local
health department, or clinic can test your child.
- Clean up as much chips and dust from lead paint with your hands and damp cloths as you
can. Do not sweep. Clean up the remains using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
Call your local health department if you would like to borrow a HEPA vacuum.
Wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning up paint chips and dust.
- Control lead dust by damp dusting hard surfaces, wet mopping floors and vacuuming
carpets often. Wash dust rags separate from other laundry or throw them away.
- Focus on windows and woodwork. Use paper towels, warm water and soap (any cleaner
will work) to wash dust and pick up loose paint chips. Rinse well.
- Don't allow children to play or sleep in areas that have chips or dust from lead paint.
- Wash children's hands often. This is especially important before meals, snacks,
naptime or bedtime.
- Feed your children foods that are high in calcium and iron. These minerals help to
prevent lead absorption.
- Never disturb old paint when children are around. Keep children away while you
refinish old painted surfaces.
- Never dry scrape, dry sand or burn old paint. Never use an open flame torch or a
heat gun. Use a spray bottle with water to wet down the area where you will remove
paint. Clean up paint chips right away.
- Call your local health department or the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Program (608) 266-5817 for more information.
Mercury In Your Home
Many thermometers, electric switches, fluorescent light bulbs, and smoke detectors
contain mercury. If these items are broken or burned the mercury can enter the air
of your home. Breathing air that contains mercury can can cause nerve and kidney
damage.
Tips on Mercury:
-
Don't buy
items that contain mercury.
-
Buy digital or alcohol thermometers and thermostats.
-
If a mercury thermometer breaks, use care to do the following: open windows to bring
fresh air into the room, use two pieces of paper to carefully scoop the mercury into a
plastic bag or container with a lid. Put another plastic bag over the first bag or
container to prevent any vapor release. The bag can then be safely brought to an
approved disposal area. Contact your your local
public health department for information on disposal area locations.
*** Never vacuum mercury droplets.
***
This can cause dangerous levels of mercury vapors to be released
into the air.
-
If the mercury cannot be scooped up,
contact your local public health department for a mercury spill clean up kit. The kit
provides directions and a substance to make the mercury harmless. For more
information about cleaning up mercury spills, see the DHFS Mercury
Spill Clean Up Guidelines.
-
Contact your local health department immediately for help with mercury spills larger
than a teaspoon. These spills need special cleanup attention.
Hazardous Household Waste
Use "clean sweeps" programs in your area to get rid of household wastes like
leftover paints, solvents, and pesticides. Contact the Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for a schedule
of clean sweep programs in your area. Expired or unwanted
medications can be taken to a local pharmaceutical
clean sweep program. Take used motor oil and batteries to
recycling centers. Your local waste manager can tell you where the nearest drop off
site is located.
For more information
Prepared by the
Wisconsin Dept of Health and Family Services
Division of Public Health
Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health
Last Revised: October 24, 2008 |
