Home Safe Home
Spring cleaning season is here. As you create your plan for cleaning indoors and outdoors, place safety at the top of your checklist. Take time to poison-proof key areas of your home. After all, “Home Safe Home” truly means “Home Sweet Home.”
Keep all cleaning products out of reach of children and pets. Oven cleaners and drain openers pose the highest risk. Many cleaners come in bright colors or sweet scents, which can cause children to mistake them for drinks. Secure over-the-counter and prescription medications as well. Household chemicals and medications can cause serious harm. Fortunately, you can prevent most poisonings with proper storage.
Utility Room
Laundry detergent packets offer convenience, but they also create serious risks. Always store them out of reach of children. Last year, exposure to these packets poisoned more than 6,000 children. The detergent inside is highly concentrated and dangerous.
Symptoms can include severe vomiting, breathing trouble, and loss of consciousness. Some children require ventilator support. Although the packets resemble candy, they can cause life-threatening injuries. In case of an emergency, save the Poison Control Center number—800-222-1222—in your phone contacts.
Garage and Garden
Store hazardous products such as gasoline, paint, antifreeze, pesticides, and bug spray securely. Keep these items away from children and pets at all times. Store garden tools and equipment safely to reduce the risk of injury.
Consider installing storage cabinets or shelving in your garage or garden shed. Organization helps prevent accidents before they happen. Regularly review these spaces and remove hazards that may go unnoticed. Taking a few extra steps can turn a dangerous area into a safer one.
March 20, 2020 | Tower Hill Insurance