Are you aware of the top 10 household poisons?

One evening my then 15-month old daughter was playing around the house and I was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. While I usually check on my daughter every few minutes, unfortunately I'd left her alone for a while and she was unusually quiet. I rushed to check on her and caught her going through the cabinet under the bathroom sink! She had pulled out some of the cleaning agents and looked utterly thrilled to discover something new. My heart skipped a beat! I immediately checked to see if she had managed to open or ingest any of the cleaning agents. Thankfully, all the products were tightly screwed shut. This frightening experience made me do a thorough check of the various seemingly innocent, but deadly poisons we have right under our noses at home.

Accidental poisoning is common among children up to the age of 6 years. Suicidal poisoning was seen in children above the age of 13 years, and the cases were related to consumption of drugs and household chemicals. Household products such as cosmetics, dyes, creams and toiletries cause about 75% of the accidental poisoning cases in India each year.

What Are Some Common Household Poisons I Should Be Aware Of?

1. Personal Care Items: Everyday items and cosmetics such as nail polish, nail polish removers, hair oil, perfumes, aftershave, mouthwash, and toothpaste are the most common culprits. You may have read the warning on the toothpaste box that tells you to seek medical attention immediately if you ingest too much. This is because toothpaste, especially one with fluoride, when consumed in a large quantity can cause serious intestinal issues, and even convulsions
2. Medicines: This includes all prescription medicines, painkillers, blood pressure medicines, sleeping pills and antibiotics. Store medicines in cabinets that are out of reach for children. Make sure the caps are screwed on tightly. If you're taking a course of medicines, don't leave any lying on your bedside table or the dining table. Supplements such as vitamins and iron too can be harmful if your child consumes a large dose. Don't store medicines past their expiry date and discard medicines that you don't use
3. Topical creams:Keep all medicated creams and lotions out of reach as they can be potent poisons if consumed
4. Cleaning products: Store all types of soap, toilet cleaners, floor disinfectants and other cleaning agents in high shelves that your child cannot access. Don't leave them under the kitchen sink or in an easily accessible shelf that is not locked. While cleaning the house, don't leave any containers of cleaning products unattended
5. Pesticides and insect repellents: Sprays such as cockroach or mosquito repellents, rat poison and pesticide gels must always be kept in locked cabinets that your child cannot open. These contain chemicals that can prove fatal if consumed
6. Mothballs: They hardly look dangerous and, in fact, seem quite attractive to children. But if ingested, mothballs can cause kidney damage, nausea, seizures and even a coma. Make sure you keep them well out of reach, and always wash clothes that you have stored with mothballs before wearing them
7. Alcoholic beverages: When having a drink at home, never leave your glass on the table and leave the room. If you've had a party, make sure all glasses are put away immediately. Keep your bar cabinet locked at all times. Even seemingly harmless items such as mouthwash contain enough alcohol to cause poisoning when consumed
8. Cigarettes: Just one cigarette contains enough nicotine to poison a child. So make sure that cigarettes are kept away at all times. Don't leave cigarette butts around where your child can find them
9. Kerosene: Never store kerosene in bottles similar to the ones in which you store water or juice. Children can accidentally ingest it, and the effects are severe. Even extremely small quantities can cause poisoning, and after a day or two of ingestion can even cause chemical pneumonitis
10. Hand Sanitizer: We are often so obsessed with keeping our hands and our child's hands clean that we forget to be mindful of how much sanitizer we use. Don't hand your child a bottle of hand sanitizer, as ingesting it can be very harmful

What Should I Do If My Child Has Ingested A Poisonous Substance?

Call the nearest hospital immediately, and follow the doctor's instructions.The following basic first aid may also prove useful-

1. In case of ingestion, wash your child's mouth thoroughly with clean water. If his eyes seem irritated, rinse them for at least 15 minutes with tepid water
2. Don't try to get him to vomit unless your doctor explicitly asks you to
3. Don't give your child any salt or vinegar. It is best to avoid any food or beverage until he has been checked by a doctor
4. Keep him in a place with fresh air

Most of these items are useful for various purposes and you cannot get rid of them. However, make sure you exercise caution while storing them, and never leave them accessible to your child. Monitoring your child's every movement and being vigilant at all times will minimize the risk of accidental poisoning.

Crawl on all fours and look around to see what your child sees. You may find dangerous objects lying around that might have never caught your attention otherwise. Your child is naturally curious, and you cannot stop him from exploring his environment. But you can definitely make it safe for him.

Have any more safety tips to prevent poisoning at home? Do share them with us in the comments section!