Hair spray, vitamins, antifreeze, pet products, house paint. These and other common items found in any home are useful when used correctly. But in the wrong hands, they can be deadly. Learn more about how to keep your home safe from accidental poisoning by taking this quiz, based in part on information from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).
1. Only household products with the word "poison" on the label are dangerous.
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Many dangerous household products don't have "poison" on the label. A poison is any substance that can harm the body. According to the AAPCC, other dangerous materials and household poisons include:
Cleaning products such as drain openers and oven cleaners
Fuels such as kerosene and lighter fluid
Windshield washer solution
Makeup
Office and craft supplies
Antifreeze
Insecticides
Labels can carry different words to warn about them. A label that carries the word "danger" is a serious poison or may be explosive. "Warning" is used for products that are slightly less dangerous, but that could still make you sick or seriously injured. "Caution" is used on products that are less dangerous than those marked with "Warning." These products can irritate the skin or eyes, or make you ill if you breathe the fumes. For more details on a product, see the National Library of Medicine's product database at householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov.
2. Teach your children never to eat mushrooms they find growing in the yard.
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Stay away from all wild mushrooms. Even mushroom experts may have trouble knowing a poisonous mushroom from one that's not poisonous. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning include stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea in less severe cases. In more severe cases, liver failure, kidney failure, and seizures can occur. Some cases can be fatal. Symptoms can occur right after eating the mushroom or within several hours. If your child eats a wild mushroom, call your healthcare provider or a poison control center.
3. A multivitamin that contains iron can be deadly to a young child.
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Iron is an essential mineral in the diet, but too much iron can be fatal. As little as 250 mg—far less than 1/8 teaspoon—can poison a small child, according to the Iron Disorders Institute. Other medicines meant for adults also can be very harmful or deadly for children. That's why it's important to keep all medicines and vitamins out of reach of children.
4. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly, but you can avoid it by watching for the telltale color of the gas.
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Carbon monoxide (CO) has no color or odor. That's what makes it so dangerous. CO can build up in the home if heaters or furnaces aren't properly vented or aren't working properly. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, confusion, and loss of consciousness, according to the CDC. Make sure your heating system is serviced regularly. Don't use portable heaters, grills, or generators indoors if they are powered by gas or chemicals. These may produce CO. Your home or apartment should have a battery-powered CO detector. Change the batteries in the spring and in the fall, when you change your clocks. If your CO detector sounds an alarm, leave your home right away and call 911.
5. You should keep the phone number for your poison control center posted near or programmed into your phone.
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All poison control centers have the same number: 800-222-1222. You can also call 911, or your local emergency medical number. Many cases of poisoning can be safely treated at home. Check with the poison control center to find out what you should do. Here are some basic emergency tips for poisoning:
For a chemical that accidentally gets into someone's eye, rinse the eye in running water. Use the faucet or a shower, and rinse for 15 to 20 minutes. Then call the poison control number. Or have someone else call the poison control number while you rinse the eye.
For a chemical that accidentally gets onto the skin, remove any clothing that was splashed. Rinse the bare skin in running water for 15 to 20 minutes. Then call the poison control number.
For poisonous fumes accidentally inhaled, go outside. Open windows and doors to get fresh air into the room. Then call the poison control number. If a person is having trouble breathing, call 911.
6. Although syrup of ipecac was once a staple of home first aid kits, it is no longer recommended as an emergency treatment for accidental poisoning.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health experts no longer recommends using syrup of ipecac, which makes a person vomit. You should safely throw away any ipecac you may still have. If someone in your home accidentally swallows a poison, call the poison control center or 911.
