Child safety: Preventing poisoning

Perhaps the problem is that as adults we are inherently aware of the dangers such substances would have to our health. Children, on the other hand, do not have this awareness and are attracted to the bright colours, attractive packaging and the place these items seem to have in their parents’ life. 

Taking the time to assess the hazardous substances we keep in our homes and on our properties can help us put safety measures in place to protect our children and prevent trips to the emergency room. 

Medications and vitamins

The average household has a multitude of medications, vitamins and other supplements in the home to keep the family healthy. However, these very same medicines can make us dangerously ill if too many are consumed, or we don’t have the condition for which they were prescribed. 

Medication is particularly attractive to children as they tend to look very similar to sweets. As such, it’s critically important to stress to children the difference and not refer to medication in any way that could be construed as a treat. 

Most of us have a place where we store medication that is considered out of reach of the children in the home. However, we tend to forget about the medication and vitamins that we keep in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and even our handbags. We also tend to believe that child-proof containers are 100% safe, when the truth is a determined child could actually find a way to get into these containers. 

It's for this reason that all medication and vitamins should be kept under lock and key, no matter where you may keep them. If you don’t have a cabinet or drawer that locks, then get lockable storage boxes for all the areas in the home where medication is kept. For the moms, you can get a small security bag with a lock for all the medication you keep in your handbag. 

While you’re at it, find a secure storage solution for your cosmetic items such as perfume, cologne, nail varnish, nail polish remover and hair dyes. 

Household chemicals

We collect a lot of chemicals to keep our homes clean and pest-free and even the environmentally-friendly options are toxic. While keeping these items below the sink may be the most convenient, it is also the most dangerous to your children. 

Store household chemicals and cleaning agents in your highest cupboard to keep them out of reach, and wherever possible, add child locks to make them more inaccessible to the determined child. 

Pesticides and particularly rat poison can be deadly and should always be kept under lock and key. 

Flammable liquids

These are items we don’t really think of until we need them, so they tend to be stored at the back of kitchen cupboards or wherever space can be found in the garage. 

If you have children in the home, then liquids such as petrol, paraffin, lighter fluid, methylated spirits and turpentine should always be locked away. Never store these liquids in cold drink bottles or any other kind of containers that could make them desirable to children. 

Remember that alcohol is also hazardous to children and should be inaccessible to curious children that want to mimic their parents. 

Outdoor chemicals

When assessing your home for dangerous chemicals, don’t forget to step outside to take a look at those items used to maintain the home, garden and pool. 

Ideally, all chemicals such as pesticides, paints, varnish, pool chemicals and the like should be locked away. If you do not have a lockable cabinet in your garage to store these items, then make it a habit to keep your garage closed and locked at all times. 

Natural dangers

Mother nature provides us with much in the way of beauty and nourishment, but there are plants that are not meant for human consumption. 

The internet offers many apps that will allow you to scan or take pictures of plants to help you identify the species and any dangers. If you are not an avid gardener, these apps will help you identify any poisonous plants, mushrooms, toadstools, nuts, fruits and berries. If these plants cannot be kept in an area that is inaccessible to your children, then it might be better to dig them up and replace them with something just as pretty, but less toxic.

Take the time to teach your children that not all fruit and berries are fit for consumption and to never eat anything unknown.