By Shannon Rice
Child Advocacy Specialist
Did you know that National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) is March 18-24? This year is the 50th anniversary of NPPW. The purpose of NPPW is to remind everyone of the dangers of unintentional poisonings and how best to prevent poisonings in the first place.
Because I am the mother of small children, and there are more than 1 million poisonings to small children reported each year, this month’s post is devoted to 4 household items you may not know are poisonous to your children.
The following 4 things are in many households, and may surprise you how harmful they can be:
- Mouthwash - mouthwash contains ethanol which is the same kind of alcohol found in wine and beer. Remember what a child “sees” may be different from what it really is. To a small child, mouthwash can look like punch or some other kind of tasty drink. To show the impact, a 1 ounce drink of mouthwash, that includes ethanol, could cause a child to be legally drunk. 3-4 ounces is enough to cause low blood sugar or even a coma.
- Muscle Rubs - One of the main ingredients in many muscle rubs is called methyl salicylate. This ingredient is similar to aspirin. Aspirin poisoning causes symptoms such as ringing in the ears, vomiting, drowsiness, and seizures.
- Plants - Many of you may not know that Daffodils, Daphne plant, Rhubarb, Iris, Bleeding Hearts, Laurels, and even Milestone are toxic for children. For example, if a toddler ate a few berries off a Daphne plant, it could be fatal. If you are planning to plant a garden, you may want to avoid these plants and any other poisonous fauna. For a more complete list, please refer to www.poison.org.
- Lamp Oil - Lamp oil has become a popular household item. It is attractive because it smells sweet and is colorful. This product is used in decorative lamps or Tiki torches that are accessible in the yard. Once a child takes a sip, they will most likely realize it does not taste good and they will spit it back up. In the process of spitting it up, it can get into the lungs, which can result in serious lung damage and a trip to the intensive care.
To keep your little ones safe, keep these household items out of reach. In addition, have the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1212) handy by posting it on the refrigerator, giving the number to your baby sitter, and putting it as a contact in your cell phone. For more information, you can also text TIPS to 69866 for weekly poison facts and news!
