Common Household Poisons
Many everyday products found in homes can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Cleaning products like bleach, drain cleaner, and oven cleaner contain strong chemicals that can burn skin or damage lungs if inhaled. Medications, including vitamins and supplements, can be harmful if someone takes too much or takes another person’s prescription. Small button batteries, found in watches and remote controls, can cause serious chemical burns if swallowed, and pesticides used to kill insects or weeds are toxic to people too.
The Poison Control Center
The Poison Control Center phone number in the United States is 1-800-222-1222, and it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you think someone has swallowed, breathed in, or touched something poisonous, call this number right away for expert guidance. The specialists who answer can tell you exactly what to do based on the substance involved. Never try to make someone throw up after they have swallowed something poisonous unless Poison Control specifically tells you to, because some substances cause even more damage coming back up.
Carbon Monoxide: The Invisible Danger
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when fuels like gasoline, wood, propane, or natural gas burn. Because you cannot see or smell it, carbon monoxide is sometimes called the “silent killer,” and CO poisoning is a leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, weakness, and confusion, which can make it hard to realize what is happening. Every home should have CO detectors on every floor, and they should be tested regularly to make sure they are working.
Storing Chemicals Safely
Keeping household chemicals and medications stored properly is one of the most important ways to prevent poisoning. All chemicals and medicines should stay in their original containers with their labels so everyone knows exactly what is inside. Store cleaning products, pesticides, and medications in locked cabinets or on high shelves where young children cannot reach them. Never transfer chemicals to food or drink containers, because someone might accidentally swallow them thinking they are something safe to drink.
Never Mix Chemicals
Mixing different cleaning chemicals together can create extremely dangerous reactions. For example, mixing bleach with ammonia produces toxic chloramine gas, which can cause coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Even mixing bleach with vinegar or rubbing alcohol creates harmful fumes that can fill a room quickly. Always use one cleaning product at a time, make sure the area is well-ventilated, and read the warning labels on every product before using it.
Poisonous Plants
Some common plants found in yards and parks can be harmful if touched or eaten. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac produce an oily substance called urushiol that causes an itchy, blistering rash on most people’s skin. Other plants like foxglove, oleander, and certain mushrooms can be seriously dangerous if any part of them is swallowed. The safest rule is to never eat any plant, berry, or mushroom you find growing outside unless an adult you trust confirms it is safe.
What to Do in a Poisoning Emergency
If someone has been poisoned, staying calm and acting quickly can make all the difference. Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or call 911 if the person is unconscious, having trouble breathing, or having a seizure. Try to figure out what the person was exposed to and have the container or plant ready to describe to the experts. If the poison is on the skin, remove any contaminated clothing and rinse the area with running water for 15 to 20 minutes.
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