Art supplies, makeup, plants — just a few common things we keep in our homes that seem innocent, but that could be potentially dangerous to curious young kids. And that's not to mention the more obviously harmful household items, like medications or disinfectants and bleach.
The positive news is that we can all take simple steps to keep our littlest family members safe. Follow these top tips from Jill Lucas-Drakeford, Carilion Children’s Safe Kids coordinator, to prevent accidental poisonings by taking a few safety precautions.
Store Things Safely
Store all household products and cleaning solutions out of children’s sight and reach. Young kids are often eye-level with items under the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
Store poisonous items (including liquid packets for the laundry and dishwasher) out of reach or use safety locks on cabinets within reach.
Make sure that all medications, including vitamins and adult medicines, are in child-resistant packaging and are stored out of reach and out of sight of children. Poisonings from medications is the leading cause of calls to poison centers and visits to emergency departments.
Read Labels
Read product labels to find out what can be hazardous to kids.
Dangerous household items include makeup, personal care products, plants, pesticides, lead, art supplies, alcohol and carbon monoxide.
Prevent Lead Poisoning
Check toys and your home for lead-based paint.
Remove any peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.
Be Prepared
Put the Poison Control number—800-222-1222—in your cell phone and post it in your home near your phone or on your refrigerator for you and anyone that might be caring for your child.
Each of the steps above only take a few minutes and give you one less thing to worry about, so take the time to make sure your little one is safe to explore! Get more tips on poison prevention from SafeKids.org.
