| In the United States alone, someone is poisoned every | | | | whenever they're not in use. Remember that |
| few seconds. 40% of these cases involve children | | | | medicines and household chemicals on kitchen |
| under the age of 3. 50% of these cases involve | | | | counters or bathroom surfaces are very accessible to |
| children under the age of 6. For this reason, it is | | | | young hands. It is also your responsibility to make sure |
| important to lock up household chemicals in a high | | | | that any medicines that visitors may bring into your |
| cabinet that is out of the reach of children. In 75% of | | | | home are also kept safely away from |
| these cases, the poison was a common household | | | | children.Whenever you use toxic products, you should |
| product (ie prescription drugs, non-prescription pain | | | | never let them out of your sight, even if you must take |
| killers, vitamins, cosmetics, personal care and cleaning | | | | them along with you whenever you're answering the |
| products, house plants, tobacco products and alcohol). | | | | telephone or the doorbell. Studies show that most |
| Here is a simple check list to use within your | | | | poisonings actually occur whenever the product is |
| home.Bathroom: medicines, toilet cleaners, antibacterial | | | | being used.You need to store all medicines away from |
| cleaners, air fresheners, drain cleaners, mold and | | | | household products, and all household chemical |
| mildew remover, and some cosmetics.Kitchen: glass | | | | products away from food.Keep products in their |
| cleaner, antibacterial cleaner, dishwashing | | | | original containers with the original label intact. Make |
| detergent, all-purpose cleaner, insect sprays, oven | | | | sure that you read the label before you use |
| cleaner, and ant or roach baits.Living Room: flea collars, | | | | them.Avoid taking medication in front of children, since |
| rug or carpet cleaners, furniture polish, cigarette or | | | | young children tend to immitate adults. You should also |
| cigar butts in ash trays, and alcoholic | | | | make sure that you NEVER call medicine "candy."The |
| beverages.Bedroom: total release insect foggers, air | | | | poison control number (1-800-222-1222) should be |
| fresheners, and moth balls.Laundry Room: all-purpose | | | | posted on or near every home telephone.You need to |
| cleaner, insect sprays, chlorine bleach, woodstains and | | | | know the names of the plants in your house and yard. |
| finishes, and laundry detergents.Garage: motor oil, | | | | If and when you fnd a poisonous plant, it should either |
| windshield washer fluid, oil-based and latex paints, auto | | | | be placed out of the reach of children or, better yet, |
| batteries, antifreeze, spot-on pesticides to control fleas | | | | removed.Check your home for lead-based paints. You |
| and ticks on pets.Back Yard: weed killers, pool | | | | can receive detailed information about this by |
| chemicals including | | | | contacting the National Lead Information Center at |
| algicides and chlorine, baits for rodent control, insect | | | | 1-800-424-LEADReverend Brenda Hoffman, is |
| repellents, and some new bug zappers.Now that | | | | ordained by the Unitarian Life Church, and has been |
| you've taken not of what these products are, it's time | | | | delivering holistic health and wellness advice for over 7 |
| to do something about them. Here is what you can | | | | years since receiving a BA in psychology. As a |
| do:First of all, it is very important that you keep all | | | | home-based professional and mother of 1, she |
| household chemical products and medicines out of the | | | | operates a holistic wellness network. She invites you |
| reach and out of the sight of children. These things | | | | over to to learn how to improve you and your family's |
| really should be locked up | | | | health. |