Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Rise in Calls to Poison Centers on Disinfectants and Hand Sanitizers


Since COVID-19 hit the United States earlier this year, many people have been staying home and practicing social distancing. Many have also made efforts to ensure their home is free of germs by using disinfectant products and hand sanitizers. Calls to Texas Poison Centers regarding hand sanitizers alone has risen by 80 percent compared to last years data.

Poison center educators want you to practice safe use when it comes to using disinfectants and hand sanitizers. Here are some tips to help in keeping you and your loved ones safe:

·       Keep all disinfectants and hand sanitizers locked up, away, and out of sight.

·       Always follow the instructions on the label of any product, including disinfectants and cleaners.

·       Pay attention to any warning labels on the product label and follow those warnings accordingly.

·       Always store products in their original containers. Moving them to other types of containers can cause confusion for children and adults alike. For example, if you poured Windex into a Gatorade bottle, someone could mistake it for Gatorade and accidentally drink it.

·       Never mix cleaning products! The results could be deadly. Check out one of our previous blogs on mixing cleaning products to learn more.

·       It is always a good idea to wear gloves when working with disinfectants or cleaning products, especially if the instructions tell you to. It helps protect your skin from any chemical reactions.

·       If you keep disinfectants or hand sanitizers in cabinets that children can reach, be sure to use effective child locks so that children cannot get to them.

·       Teach your kids, from a young age, about the dangers of all household products & potential poisons, and to never put them in their mouths.

If you find yourself in a poison emergency, call the poison experts at 1-800-222-1222. They are available to assist you with any questions or concerns 24/7. For more information on poison safety, please visit www.poisoncontrol.org.