The History of the Housing Court
Hazardous Household Products
Some common household products can be very dangerous
to your children:
- bleach
- rat poison
- moth-balls
- charcoal lighter fluid
- oven cleaner
- batteries
- mercury thermometers
- gas
- oil
- wood polish
- toilet and drain cleaners
- shoe polish
- bug spray
- and many other common household products.
How are children harmed by these products?
Children can be poisoned if products are stored or
thrown away unsafely. Children’s bodies are small, so
even a little bit of some chemicals can cause big
problems. Eating or drinking the products is dangerous.
Sometimes, they can burn skin and eyes, just by touching
them. They can make you sick when they get into your
body through your skin or when breathing in dust or
fumes.
How do I know if my child was exposed to a
hazardous chemical?
Sometimes, the symptoms of chemical exposure are
obvious: The child feels sick or dizzy, her skin could
burn and itch or her eyes might water. Some problems
might not occur until a much later date, such as damage
to lungs or cancer. Consult your doctor if you have any
suspicion that your child may have been exposed to a
dangerous chemical.
What can I do to avoid exposure?
First, follow the instructions on the product. Follow
these steps, too:
- Buy what you need to do the job and nothing
more.
- Use safe products whenever possible.
- Read and follow the directions on all products.
- Keep hazardous products out of the reach of
children, including bleach.
- Keep Poison Control Center telephone numbers
readily available.
- Never mix two products unless you are sure it is
safe. For example, never mix ammonia and bleach.
- Do not burn containers.
- Recycle the products where possible.
- Give leftover products to someone else.
- Keep everything in its original container.
- Buy only chemicals in childproof containers.
Hazardous Household Products web links and contact
information:
Call Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222
Lucas County Health Department (419) 213-4074
Contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission,
(800) 638-2772—www.cpsc.gov
Contact Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes, (406)
994-3451—www.healthyindoorair.org
The Home*A*Syst handbook, (608) 262-0024—www.uwex.edu/homeasyst
EPA’s Consumer Labeling Initiative—www.epa.gov/opptintr/laveling/index.htm
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