Mistaken Identity

What looks like a bottle of window cleaner to you may appear to be a jug of fruit punch to your 4-year-old son. In fact, an estimated 30 children die each year because of accidental poisonings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The ingestion of harmful substances is one of the most common causes of injury among young children, and many of these instances involve ordinary household items.

Because poisonous materials come in different forms and often have colorful packaging, it’s easy to understand how little ones can mistake them for candy, beverages, lotions or other appealing items.

Poison Mix-up Prevention
“While many parents may already keep hazardous items out of reach or locked away using cabinet locks, it’s just as important to teach your children which substances are harmful,” says Melissa Heigham, PharmD, manager of clinical pharmacy services at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “A good way to implement this practice in a way that young ones understand is to put Mr. Yuk stickers of a certain color on poisonous household items. Teach your child that if he sees this sticker, the item is not to be touched because it is dangerous.”

Other ways to help minimize your child’s risk of coming into contact with poisonous household items include:

• Always keep hazardous substances in their original containers. Never peel off a label from a clear soda bottle or other container and fill it with a foreign substance.
• Know what plants you have in your home, as some can be poisonous when ingested. If you find that you do own poisonous plants, decide whether you want to keep them out of reach or remove them from the home.
• When bringing in the groceries, it may seem easier to leave your child in the house while you make quick trips from the car to the kitchen. Kids are curious, so be sure to place grocery bags on countertops or keep young children out of the kitchen during this time.
• Teach your child to always ask before eating or drinking anything.

If you fear your child may have ingested something hazardous, call Poison Control at 800.222.1222. To schedule a home safety consult, call 314.454.KIDS (5437) or 800.678.KIDS.

Toxic Look-Alikes