Just imagine the intense panic you would feel if you caught your child holding an open bottle of cough syrup and saying, juice or carrying your prescription pills and saying, candy. Knowing that seconds matter, the nervousness and fear that ensues will undoubtedly, not only make you feel like your heart skipped a beat and look as pale as a ghost, but also leave you feeling frustrated with difficult-to-answer questions. It is not always easy to figure out whether your child is okay, if any medicine was swallowed or even worse, how much was swallowed. Unintentional poisonings are a major health threat in children and preventative measures must be taken to keep our children safe.
Keep a watchful eye
Remember those feelings of overwhelming joy and pride when you witnessed your child take his first step, utter his first word, pedal his first bicycle, and scribble his first drawing. These irsts mark the beginning of the transition from babyhood to toddlerhood or, as I like to name it, scaryhood when our child transforms from an infant lying around idly in his crib or stroller to a vibrant, active toddler who cannot wait to wreak havoc! This stage is not only when important developmental milestones get reached, but also when you should be the most vigilant.
Curiosity puts children at risk for accidents
The saying curiosity killed the cat reminds us that being too inquisitive can lead us into dangerous situations. Children, similar to cats, are notoriously curious creatures, who enjoy delving into every nook and cranny. Consequently, children often put themselves into harm's way as there is not one closet, cabinet, shelf, or drawer a child does not try to get into; these places often store chemicals and products that look appealing to a child who cannot wait to taste them. You should always assume that your child would eat and do anything because his innate unstoppable drive to explore his environment will not stop him from meddling with unsafe things - children do not differentiate between safe and unsafe!
Ways poisons can harm us
1. Ingested poisons - household products, plants, drugs
2. Inhaled poisons - carbon monoxide gas, pesticides
3. Injected poisons - venomous bites and stings from animals or insects
4. Absorbed poisons - chemicals can cause damage to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes through direct contact
Poisons can look like food or drink
Many things that are poisonous around the house have look-alikes and can be mistaken for food or drink to a child. For example, mothballs which are commonly used to repel mildew and moths for clothing storage contain a deadly toxin called naphthalene; children may think these poisonous round balls are gumball candies, which can be fatal if ingested. Other poisons that can be harmful and tempting to children are plants, especially because many of them look pretty, colorful and are easily accessible. Household cleaners are also appealing to children with their attractive bottles, fruity fragrance and bright colors; it is no wonder why they are frequently mistaken for juice. Just think about it to a child, a poison that is white and fluffy, such as laundry detergent, looks like powdered sugar; a clear liquid, such as rubbing alcohol, looks like water; a yellow liquid, such as ammonia, looks like lemonade; a sticky substance, such as glue, looks like frosting; a pasty substance, such as brown paint, looks like pudding; a blue liquid, such as window cleaner, looks like Kool-Aid. A common mistake, for convenience sake, is when parents transfer dangerous chemicals (kerosene, paint, household cleaners, etc) from their original containers to ones that are used for food (water bottles, soda cans, cups, etc) which poses a great hazard to our children.
Poisonous Toys
Small toys, such as magnets found in Magnetix building sets, games and puzzles, are not only dangerous because of the obvious choking hazard reasons, but also because they can cause severe internal injury if swallowed, these magnets are so powerful that they can attract each other even if human tissue is in their way, whereby causing blockage or twisting of your child's intestines! Did you also know that those tiny, small, disc-shaped button batteries found in many toys such as musical baby books and toy cell phones can be dangerous Although harmless looking, these batteries actually contain toxic chemicals that can cause severe internal burns if they get stuck in a child's body when swallowed. Just hope for the best possible outcome which is that your child passes the ingested battery quickly through his stool before any damage occurs. In addition, many toys and children's jewelry are coated with paint that contains lead. Children love to put toys in their mouths. Lead poisoning in children is a major threat and, oftentimes, goes unnoticed because there may not be any visible symptoms at all; no symptoms does not mean no damage when it comes to lead; even very low levels of lead can cause inconspicuous symptoms, such as slower brain development and behavioral problems in children.
Did you know that...
More than 90 percent of poison exposures occur in the home.
Oleander and Castor bean plants are poisonous where even one leaf can kill a child!
Vitamins with iron are oftentimes mistaken for candy and can be lethal to a child.
Burning ordinary fuels in an enclosed tent, room or space can kill you, without even knowing it, because the poisonous carbon monoxide fumes that get released are odorless and colorless.
Toddlers can get seriously ill if ingestion of more than one cigarette or three cigarette butts occurs.
Swallowing more toothpaste than the amount used for brushing can make a child sick because it contains a toxin called fluoride and depending on the weight and age of the child, ingesting even as little as half of a tube can be fatal.
Alcohol based hand sanitizers can be toxic if ingested; however, their proven benefits for flu prevention should not stop us from using them for our children but only under parental supervision.
Poison-proof your home
1. Keep poisons and medications in original containers.
2. All poisons should be out of children's reach (including toothpastes, cigarettes, dirty ashtrays, mouthwashes, gasoline and household cleaners).
3. Never put poisons in food or drink containers.
4. Always keep poisons in child-resistant bottles (remember child-resistant is not child-proof!).
5. Any child-accessible cabinet that contains poisons should have locks or safety latches.
6. Never put medications in your purse or in your bedside drawers.
7. Discard expired medications safely; best to take to a nearby pharmacy; do not throw in open trashcans in the bathroom or kitchen where the child can access.
8. Do not keep poisonous plants in your garden or home.
9. Never store poisons in the same area as food.
10. Make sure your heating system, water heater, and any other fuel burning appliances are not malfunctioning and are properly working.
Parents should
Avoid calling medicine candies.
Not take medications in front of their children because they will imitate you!
Always check the floor for any dropped medicine pills.
Watch your children in other people's homes because they might not be poison-proofed.
Empty all ashtrays and keep all tobacco products away from children.
Ask visiting family and friends to put their handbags out of reach.
Never let anything interrupt you while giving your child medicine; distractions, such as phone calls or doorbells, can cause you to inadvertently leave opened bottles of medicine in the hands of children; take your child with you to answer a door or phone.
Discard any toys that have chipped paint and do not let children put any toys or jewelry coated with paint in their mouths.
Never let young children play with magnetic toys.
Never use the oven for heating your home.
Always put the caps back on everything right away; if using a dangerous substance, never leave a child out of your sight.
Unload anything potentially dangerous from your grocery bag before doing anything else.
Teach your child that
They must always ask an adult before they eat, taste or drink anything.
They should never sniff something or rub anything on their skin without asking an adult.
Many poisons look like food or drinks.
Poisons can cause sickness or even death.
They should never eat plants, flowers, berries and fruits from the garden or outside because they may be poisonous.
Hand-sanitizers should not be put in mouths and to use a small amount; explain to them only to use if soap and water is unavailable (if sending a bottle with your child to school).
Only a pea-size amount of toothpaste should be used and to avoid swallowing; tell them it is good for their teeth, not their stomachs
They must not walk barefoot outside to avoid bites and stings.
Older siblings should watch out for their younger siblings; tell them to act as another pair of eyes and to take dangerous products away from younger children and to report anything suspicious to you.
