Household Product Safety for Children

A child’s natural curiosity may lead them to explore potentially dangerous household products. Exposures or ingestions of these are a very common cause of emergency department visits for kids, resulting in over 16,000 such visits annually due to household cleaning products alone. Here are steps you can take to help keep your child safe.

• Cleaning products: These can be poisonous and very attractive to kids, like laundry and dishwasher pods. Ingesting detergent can cause choking, nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing and damage to the esophagus. Bleach accounts for about 30% of all injuries from cleaning products and can result in severe intestinal damage and even death if a high concentration is swallowed. Many cleaning product injuries occur from the product being sprayed into the child’s eyes. Opt for products with child-resistant caps. Keep all cleaning products secured and out of reach, ideally in a locked cabinet. Consider choosing less toxic, natural products instead- most grocery stores have a good selection of these.
• Batteries: Button batteries found in fobs, remotes, singing greeting cards, toys,etc. can be deadly if swallowed due to the electrical current from the battery and its chemical seeping into the intestinal tract. Store batteries safely, keep items with batteries out of reach, and tape over the battery compartments to prevent children from accessing the battery.
• Nicotine products: Nicotine can be very toxic to children. Nicotine products like pouches, patches, vapes, and e-liquid may be attractive to children because they can look like candy or juice. Toxic effects include high heart rate and blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and even death from cardiac arrest. All nicotine products should be locked up and out of reach of children.
• Medications: All medicines, both prescription and over the counter, should be secured and out of reach. Be mindful of any visitors or houseguests who may have unsecured medications in their backpack, purse, etc.
• CBD/THC and edibles: Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are compounds found in the cannabis plant. THC causes euphoria or a “high” while CBD has been shown to have various health benefits such as helping with pain, anxiety, sleep, and depression. Symptoms of cannabis toxicity may include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, and seizures. Edible cannabis products like snack foods, candies, and baked goods may be enticing to kids. Cannabis edibles should be stored as any potentially toxic medication would be. Avoid buying edibles that look like candy and make sure guests do not bring in unsecured cannabis products.

Keep in mind your child’s age and natural curiosity as you seek to make your indoor environment safe. Remember to use child-resistant locks to help keep your child away from potentially dangerous household products. In addition to taking the above steps, be sure to have the National Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) posted on your refrigerator and in your phone.