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Medicines can look like candy. Household cleaners can look like food. Window washing liquid can look like juice. Not all look-alikes are poisonous or will cause a fatality, but -- no matter what your age -- some can make you very sick.
This issue of look-alike products is especially important when small children are around.
By nature, children are curious. Their curiosity, plus the desire to put things in their mouths and the tendency to imitate adults, can lead to serious cases of poisoning.
Common household items, such as drugs and medications, cleaning products, cosmetics, pesticides and paints, are poisonous if ingested. Medications account for 50 percent of all childhood poisonings, followed by household products, cosmetics and plants. Paints and petroleum products also rank high.
Examples of package look-alikes are dishwasher detergent and sweetener; cat food and cereal; cleanser and Parmesan cheese; people crackers for pets and animal crackers for people.
Examples of product look-alikes are household cleaner and apple juice, rat poison and sunflower seeds; red shampoo or mouthwash and red juice or soda; tooth paste and Ben Gay.
Medications, vitamins, supplements and candy frequently cause accidental poisonings. Easily confused are red cold tablets and red-hots; Ex-Lax and individual chocolate candies; Aspirin and Certs; Coricidin and Skittles; Drixoral and M & Ms; Motrin and Reese's Pieces; Tums and Wintergreen mints; Aspergum and fruit Chiclets.
Prevention -- keeping these deadly look-alikes away from children -- is the best protection against a child consuming them. Here are some suggestions:
- Keep close at hand the telephone number of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center (800) 332-3073 (statewide) or (303) 739-1123 (Denver metro area).
- Store potentially harmful items out of the reach of children, preferably behind locked doors.
- Keep products, medications and pesticides in their original containers with labels intact. Don't put them in cups, bowls or bottles. The original container carries a label, identifying the product and its manufacturer, which is essential information in the event of an accident. If child-resistant packaging is to work properly, containers must be closed tightly after each use. Remember child-resistant is not child-proof.
- Store medications and any potentially harmful products separate from food items. Read labels and instructions before use.
- Never give or take medication in the dark.
- Never refer to medication as "candy". Call it what it is -- medicine.
- Avoid taking medication in the presence of children. Children imitate!
- Never give or take medications prescribed for someone else.
- Check with the doctor before combining medications. Many adult vitamins and supplements contain iron, which, in quantity, can be toxic to a child.
- Dispose of old medications and outdated prescriptions by flushing them down the drain. Rinse containers well and discard. As medications age, chemicals can change. What once was a good medicine can become a dangerous poison.
- Always store pesticides away from children's reach in a locked cabinet or Garden shed. Or purchase child-proof safety latches from hardware stores and install them on cabinets. Don't think this is necessary- Be mindful that, if swallowed, everyday substances such as charcoal lighter, paint thinner and remover, antifreeze and turpentine, can kill a child.
- Never leave a child alone near poison.
Remember: out of reach, out of sight, out of danger. But according to the Rocky Mountain Poison Center, use the following actions in case your child ...
- Breaths poison -- Get the child to fresh air right away. Open doors and windows.
- Gets poison on the skin -- Remove clothes that have poison on them. Rinse skin with lukewarm water for 10 minutes. Wash gently with soap and water and rinse.
- Gets poison in the eye -- Gently pour lukewarm water over the eye. Pour from a large glass held two to three inches from the eye. Repeat for 15 minutes. Have the child blink as much as possible while pouring water in the eye. Do not force the eyelid open.
- Swallows Poison --
- Medicines -- Do not give child anything until you talk with the poison center or your doctor.
- Chemicals or Household Products -- Unless your child has passed out or cannot swallow, give milk or water right away. Call the Rocky Mountain Poison Center to see if you should make the child vomit. Always keep in your house a one-ounce bottle of Syrup of Ipecac for each child or grandchild. Use, however, only on the advice of poison center, emergency department or doctor.
For additional information about this topic, contact Jane Frobose, Colorado State University Extension at (720) 913-5276, e-mail: jfrobose@coop.ext.colostate.edu or contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
Resources:
- Deadly Look-alikes. Ohio State University Extension.
- Poison Lookout Checklist. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Uh oh. Poison! Rocky Mountain Poison Center
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