Recognizing Poisons in Your Home

It is a known fact that household cleaning products can often contain harmful chemicals that could be hazardous to your health. Most people are aware of this and therefore take the necessary steps to prevent poisoning by ensuring these products are not easily accessible, specifically to children.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Poison Help website, there are other items in your very home that could cause poisoning.

There are some basic, common poisoning risks to be aware of, including:

• vitamins and food supplements, like minerals and herbs
• medicines
• cigarettes and cigarette butts
• beauty products, perfumes, and nail polish removers
• carbon monoxide gas (CO) (usually from cars and heating devices)
• insect sprays, weed killers, and plant food
• liquids used in cars (such as antifreeze, wiper fluid, and motor oil)
• paint and paint-removal products
• plants in the house and yard
• animal bites and stings

If you have a question, call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).