According to a recent article entitled “Pediatric Poisonings inChildren Younger than Five Years Responded to by Paramedics”, publishedin The Journal of EmergencyMedicine (January 5, 2011), children one year ofage and younger experience the greatest incidence of unintentionalpoisonings. Medications are listed as the primary cause for theunintentional poisonings; and the thesis is that many other unintentionalpoisonings could be prevented if hazardous materials and medications wereplaced where children cannot access them.
It is hard to believe that parents, family members, caregivers andbabysitters in this day and age do not know that medicines (ours and ourchildren’s) should be kept in a locked medicine chest. Insurerscontinually remind us that serious accidents happen most frequently in, orclose to, our homes. Our world has become increasingly focused on takingmedicines to “feel better fast” and medicines for every human need haveproliferated so it’s not surprising that our home medicine chests may be fullto overflowing.
Today, there are even community programs which encourage people toperiodically dispose of unused or outdated medicines in appropriate ways, notonly in light of environmental concerns, but for the good of other familymembers and society. Unused remainders of medicines and outdatedmedicines should not find their way into the hands of children–or those forwhom they have not been prescribed.
It’s no secret that toddlers get into things because they are curious andimitative at various stages of development. They like to put on dad’s hat ormom’s lipstick. Teething babies and toddlers like to put things in addition totheir fingers in their mouths. Hence, the locked medicine cabinet is one moreway of helping to keep them safe. We have searched the Internet and foundseveral lockable medicine cabinets for less than 0. When it comes tochildren’s lives, a lockable medicine cabinet is a good investment.
Beyond medicines, other hazardous materials should be placed where childrencannot access them at all. House cleaning products like toilet bowlcleansers, chlorinated powder cleansers, lime and soap scum removers, floorcleaning solutions and floor wax, degreasers, detergents, softeners and bleach,paint and paint thinning or paint removal materials (such as mineral spirits,turpentine, furniture stripper), kerosene heating and lamp oil, lighter fluid,chemical-containing compounds which are used to ease the opening of doors,drawers, and vents etc., can all be extremely hazardous if ingested. Cosmetics one might keep in their bathroom cabinets, such as nail polish andnail polish remover or perfume, can also be hazardous if ingested. Parents need to remember that babies can’t read directions, so these items–justlike matches–need to be kept in locked cabinets or on high shelves where even achild on a chair cannot reach them!
All spray cans should be placed out of children’s reach. From hairspray to insect spray, to spray paint. Spray cans contain chemicals to helptheir contents remain stable under pressure. All are dangerous tochildren, so either pitch them or put them in a locked cabinet. Cans orspray bottles with old or unused chemicals in them, such as herbicides andpesticides, should be pitched or placed out of children’s reach in lockedcabinets–and, Dad, this may mean building a lockable cabinet in the garage foryour access only.
Above all, Childsafetyblog.org wants you and your children to be safe!