National Poison Prevention Month (observed in March) is a great time to take stock of everything in your home to see if it poses a danger to anyone. Other than yourself, there may be children, pets or even visitors that you have to watch out for at home.
Children
Chemicals (cleaning supplies are just one example) and medications can be poisonous, which is why you must read their labels and store them properly to protect children. If a child ingests a dangerous substance, he or she can become sick or even die.
If you have children in your home, check the safety of the storage locations for your cleaning supplies and medications. Children can easily access cabinets under the sink, drawers, and even countertops and upper cabinets. All chemicals and medications should be sealed and stored in proper areas, such as inside cabinets—but sometimes that’s not enough. To further ensure the safety of any children in your home, install special child safety locks on the cabinets.
Pets
If there are any pets in your home, remember to use the same precautions for chemicals and medications as those listed above for children. Some pets, such as dogs and cats, like to chew on things and can accidentally eat something they’re not supposed to. Another danger for pets is our own food! Dogs and cats can get poisoned eating foods we consider treats—like large quantities of chocolate.
Visitors
If you are expecting company in your home, remember to follow the advice mentioned above if they have kids or bring pets with them. Make sure everything is labeled, and if you use any chemicals (such as for cleaning), wash your hands before handling any food so that the food doesn’t get contaminated.
In Case of Emergency
This last tip is an important one for every household: Know your emergency phone numbers. Post poison control hotline numbers for your area, along with the phone numbers for your doctors (and veterinarian, if you have pets), in case of a poison emergency in your home. These numbers can save your loved ones’ lives when seeking help. You can also call the poison control hotline numbers if you have any questions about chemicals and storage in your home.