There are a large number of items commonly found in the home that can cause severe illness or death if ingested. Most of these come in the form of cleaning products, pest abatement and automotive products. These should be kept out of the reach of children in a secure location. Symptoms should be taken seriously, and medical attention should be sought with no delay as it can be a fatal situation. In some cases, it is the symptoms that lead to the discovery of an exposure to a poisonous substance.
Common Poisons
There are many poisons readily available in the average household. Cleaning products represent the biggest group of potential offenders. They can do an array of damage. Automotive products--like oil and antifreeze--are also readily available poisons. Surprisingly, food that has spoiled is another regular culprit in poisoning cases. The toxins in spoiled foods can cause severe illness.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms of poisoning vary, but the most typically seen are vomiting, nausea, headache, and fainting. A lot of the time, the true effect and the most serious damage done by a substance is not seen until hours or even days after the ingestion or exposure. In cases of poisoning where the exposure is not noticed, it is often the persistent symptoms that are the only way of indicating a problem leading to an investigation uncovering the toxins in the environment.
Poison Control
As cleaning products and automotive fluids are available in almost every household, many people have been exposed. The Department of Health has set up a poison control hot line with information on every known chemical toxin, symptoms of ingestion and what to do to prevent more damage or death to the individual.
Treatment
No two poisonous substances act exactly the same. In some cases, vomiting might be encouraged. However, in others, that would worsen the problem. For some, like rat bait ingestion, medical attention should be sought immediately as it can cause life threatening hemorrhaging. The best thing to do in an instance of suspected poisoning is to call poison control and seek medical attention right away. Delaying treatment could lead to a fatality.
Prevention
Preventing ingestion of potentially fatal substances can be avoided for the most part. Storing all hazardous cleaning, automotive and pest control items in a secure location away from the curiosity of children is a good first step. Keep labels intact so that information on what to due in case of exposure can be read and followed.
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