As parents, we do our best to keep our children healthy and safe. We buckle up their seatbelts, tell them to wash their hands before dinner, and to eat their fruits and vegetables. Yet, childhood poisonings occur every day across the globe. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, one hundred children ages fourteen and under died in 2002 because of accidental poisonings. Fifty-seven percent of these deaths occurred in children ages four and under. Safe Kids Worldwide also reports that in 2003, 89,330 children ages fourteen and under had to visit a hospital emergency room for accidental poisonings. Eighty percent were children ages four and under.
If you think that an accidental poisoning could not happen to your child, think again. I turned my back on my 18-month-old daughter to throw away her diaper. When I turned around, she had zinc oxide cream in her mouth. She had been out of my sight for less than fifteen seconds! Fortunately, the Poison Control Center said that this cream was not toxic to her.
When my children were babies, I was well aware of the dangers posed by ingesting household cleaners. I had spent four weeks working on a burn unit when I was a university student. I had vivid memories of meeting a child with a chemical burn to the esophagus (the tube that leads from the mouth to the stomach). This burn had been caused by ingesting dishwasher detergent.
Fortunately, many parents do lock up their household cleaners. However, I have learned that we need to keep more than just cleaners away from our children. Here is a list of some of the everyday products that can be severely harmful or poisonous:
- all cosmetics and skin care products - toothpaste and mouthwash - antiperspirant and deodorant - shampoo and conditioner, hairspray, and other styling aids - soap and body wash - sunscreen - perfume and cologne - bubble bath - hand and body lotion - baby oil - air freshener and deodorizer - medications - disinfectants - laundry detergents, stain removers, fabric softeners, chlorine bleach, spray starch - dishwashing soap and dishwasher detergent - multi-purpose cleaner - toilet bowl cleaner - furniture polish - batteries - toxic plants - mothballs
In summary, we do everything we can to keep our children safe. However, many products in our homes can poison them. By being aware of products that can cause harm to our children, we can take action to prevent childhood tragedies.
You can use common hairspray to stop flies and bees from pestering you. One squirt will generally send them into a quick tailspin. Hairspray can also be effective in stopping the spread of poison ivy or poison oak. Just coat the area with hairspray and the rash will be effectively contained.
If you're plagued with too many cords around the house--and who isn't--you can help organize the tangled mess by stuff lengths of them into old toilet paper rolls. Whether they're electrical cords or speaker cables, it will help reduce the jumble.
If you find yourself having to deal with a blood stain on a piece of clothing, you can get the stain out quickly by pouring on a little hydrogen peroxide on it, and then gently wiping the area. The results can be quite dramatic.
Instead of spending big money on expensive room fresheners, you can make your own by simply placing a little of your favorite perfume or after shave onto a light bulb. That way, you'll get a nice scent every time the light is turned on. Along those same lines, you can make clothes drawers smell sweet and fresh by placing fabric softener sheets on the bottom of each drawer.
If you've got armies of ants in your kitchen, you could spend lots of money on expensive traps and baits, or you could try a couple home remedies, using common household items. The first would be to draw a line on the counter or shelf, or wherever the ants' main trail is, and see for yourself if they don't stop using that route. The second line of defense would be to sprinkle salt around on your shelves. It is also a natural ant deterrent.
If you left the pot on the stove a bit too long and now have a baked-on mess to deal with, try this before you either buy a commercial product or toss the pot in the recycle bin. Just add a couple drops of dishwashing detergent to the pot, and then add only enough water to cover the bottom. Then bring the mixture to a boil, and the food will lift right off.
You don't have to spend big money on specialized products when oftentimes the same results can be gained by adapting common household products to new inventive uses.
Both Kimberly Gingras & Jeanette Joy Fisher are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kimberly Gingras has sinced written about articles on various topics from Insurance, Parenting and Types of Cancer. Kimberly Gingras is a work-at-home mom of two young children. She uses only non-toxic household and personal care products in order to prevent accidental poisonings of her children. For more information on non-toxic products for your home OR a FREE E-BOOK. Kimberly Gingras's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Jeanette Joy Fisher has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, Network Marketing and Real Estate. Have you ever wondered how to achieve that interior designer's high-end look without charging up your credit cards? Jeanette Fisher teaches five ways to makeover your home for happiness. Author of interior design and real estate books, Jeanette Fisher has. Jeanette Joy Fisher's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.