Deadbolts on the doors…check. Batteries in the smoke alarms…check. Sharp objects out of children’s reach…check. You’d gladly do all these things, and more, just to ensure your family’s safety. But the one thing that you may be overlooking, often poses the most significant risks to your health, and the health of your loved ones: household chemicals such as automotive fluids, household cleaners, laundry products, home maintenance, and more.

“More than two-million poisonings are reported each year. More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home. While the majority of non-fatal poisonings occur in children younger than six years old, the leading cause of death in adults is poisoning.” Source: Poison Prevention Week Council. These statistics show that accidental poisonings are more common than many people ever imagined possible.

Be Prepared: Accidents Often Happen in an Instant

Keep the poison control number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every working home phone, save it on your Smartphone, and place a magnet depicting the number on your refrigerator.  While this line is open 24/7, it should only be used in non-emergency situations, such as when the victim is alert and breathing. Always call 911 in the event of an emergency situation. Try to have the following information available:

• The victim’s age and weight
• The container of the ingested poison
• The time of the poison exposure
• The address where the poisoning occurred

Toss It Out If You Don’t Need It

Thinking of keeping that can of paint on-hand for your next do-it-yourself, Pinterest inspired, project? You may want to think again. Your first line of defense is to get rid of any household chemicals that you aren’t currently using. These products require special care when you dispose of them. Arizona offers several options for the safe disposal of hazardous materials.

Store Them Out of Reach

Household chemicals can be highly toxic, especially to young children, and pets {we can’t forget our furry-friends}. This is why it’s so very important to store these materials out of the reach of children – store in a locked cabinet or on a shelf too high for children to reach {even with a step stool}. Never leave household chemicals unattended when children are around. Store products by type. Even laundry detergent, and pods, should be kept up.

Store In Their Original Container

Household chemicals are a part of our everyday life. In order to achieve optimal safety, however, it’s important that you never switch a liquid from one container to another. The original container depicts labels that generally provide important information regarding the safe use, storage, and disposal of the product. Even if the print is small, you should always take the time to thoroughly read the labels, prior to purchasing or using a product. They’re there to ensure your safety.