Preventing chemical poisoning in children

Chemical poisoning in children, if not detected and given emergency care, will endanger the child's life. You need to be aware of the dangers of chemicals in your home to prevent your baby.

Fertilizers, antifreeze, makeup, medicine ... are always potentially dangerous items for children. If you do not take care of it carefully, your child can drink it by mistake any time. To prevent chemical poisoning in children, you need to equip yourself with basic information on this issue.

Chemical poisoning in children due to drugs

Keep medicines - prescription and non-prescription - out of the reach of young children. Even seemingly harmless objects like mouthwash can cause chemical poisoning in children if accidentally ingested. It is also not safe to leave the drug in high altitude because children can climb and get it. Therefore, it is best to keep it in the medicine cabinet and lock it.

Make sure your bags and loved ones, if they contain chemicals, are out of reach of children at all times.

Keep pills and liquid pills in the manufacturer's packaging.

Record the amount of medicine remaining in the box.

Know what medicines you and your loved ones have in your home.

Never prepare or give a pill in the dark because you may mistakenly give or take the wrong dose.

Never leave vitamins, aspirin, or other medications on the kitchen, table, bedside table, or closet.

Never tell a child that the medicine tastes like candy.

Detergent and other chemical products

Never store detergent with soft drink bottles or bottles that have been used to preserve food.

Never put insecticides or rat poison on the floor. Do not spray insect repellent on furniture or mattresses.

Store cleaning chemicals in a locked cabinet. Washing liquid tablets are more dangerous to children than other soaps. Therefore, if you have children under 6 years old, consider carefully before using.

Store detergents and insect sprays in a locker out of reach of children.

Do not leave household cleaning items such as detergent, detergent, or laundry detergent under the sink or in an unlocked cabinet.

Close cabinets containing harmful substances.

Hazardous garden chemicals should be placed in a locked safe area out of the reach of children. Make sure they are stored at the correct temperature according to the instructions on the package.

When cleaning the house, do not leave children unattended near bottles or containers.

Alcohol

Do not leave alcohol in a place accessible to children, especially at parties. Clean the house right after having a party.

Store alcohol in a locked cabinet and out of reach of children.

Keep the mouthwash out of the reach of small children as mouthwashes usually contain a lot of alcohol.

Lead paint

Cribs, mattresses, chairs, toys painted in color ... can also contain lead and cause chemical poisoning in children.

Other items

Never leave cosmetics and toiletries within the reach of children. Be especially careful with perfumes, hair dyes, nail polishes, and nail polish removers.

Keep children away from indoor or yard plants because they can be harmful. Plant only plants that do not contain toxins. Some poisonous plants such as conifers, cherry trees, lily flowers ...

Dispose of used batteries in the right place and keep them out of reach of children.

What do you need to do to handle chemical poisoning in your child?

You should:

Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Heimlich maneuvers for foreign body first aid.

Always have phone numbers available:

♣ Ambulance number: 115

♣ Your child's doctor phone number

♣ Parents' work phone numbers and cell phone numbers

♣ Number of relatives or neighbors nearby

Have a first aid kit and instructions inside.

Observe the objects around you and consider what might be dangerous to your child. It is not easy to completely protect your child from harmful chemicals. If you don't eliminate the hazards in your home, leave the chemicals in a certain room and lock them. Better yet, you should still carefully observe your baby.

Whether your baby is an infant,  toddler or school-aged baby , you must make sure that home is a safe place for them to explore and learn from the world around them and are free of accidents. Unfortunately, it is caused by chemical poisoning in children.