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Remember when you had to be careful and protect your
children so they didn't consume something that was dangerous to
them? Well, it's amazing what is found in an average home that
can be dangerous to anyone's health; from a small child to a
senior citizen.
The elderly especially are vulnerable to items that look
alike in their cabinets at home, or things that can be easily
confused when shopping. One reason for this is declining vision
in older people.
Even without diseases like cataracts and glaucoma, vision is
one of the first senses affected by aging. The lens and cornea
become less transparent, the pupil becomes smaller and the field
of vision shrinks. Focusing becomes less acute and the ability to
shift focus decreases.
As persons age, they also experience an increase in eye
spots. The ability to distinguish between greens and blues
lessens because the lens of the eye begins to yellow. More light
may be needed to do tasks or to read because of normal eye
changes.
Other factors--like hurrying through a task or not giving it
full attention, coupled with physical changes--can create life-
threatening situations because of confusing look-alikes.
On your next trip to the store, take time to look at the
following list of items. Hold them at arms length and squint as
you look at them to give the effect of impaired vision.
- Comet cleanser and Parmesan cheese both are sold in round cans of almost identical size
and green color.
- Pine Sol cleaner and apple juice are identical in color and may be in similarly shaped
containers.
- Cat food and tuna fish cans are the same size and shape.
- Sunlight detergent and Real Lemon juice not only look alike but Sunlight has a lemon on
it and is labeled "Real Lemon."
- Aspergum and Chicklets are the same size, shape and color.
- Tums and Sweet tarts candy are the same shape and size.
- Sudafed and red hots candy are identical in size, and both are a bright red color.
- Correctal laxative and Candy "Dots" are the same size and shape as well as bright pink
color.
- EX LAX and Hershey's candy bars both look like a chocolate candy bar but definitely
have different effects.
- Windex and Scope mouthwash are the same color and same shape and size bottle.
- Ben Gay and Colgate toothpaste have the same size and shape tube, both with red
lettering.
- Lysol spray and Aqua Net hair spray are in the same size, shape and color can.
There are many other look alikes. Persons with poor eyesight
who are careless, who don't read labels carefully, or who cannot
read may have difficulty telling products apart.
If you have these items in your home, they should never be
stored near each other, thus avoiding a possible mix-up. Before
using, be sure you have the right item by reading the labels in a
well-lighted room.
It's better to be safe than sorry. Beware of look alikes!
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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