April 8, 2010 by onstarconnectioncom
Prevent a Toxic Situation
Many people childproof their homes, but most forget about their vehicle — a place where kids are the most likely victims of a poisoning accident, according to Susan Smolinske, PharmD, director of the DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan Poison Control Center.
Many parents don’t consider the possible exposure to risks outside the home — especially in vehicles, which aren’t controlled environments, Smolinske cautions. But there’s no better time than the present to take some simple precautions.
With any poison-related issue, speed of treatment is the most important factor, Smolinske says. The good news is that almost 90 percent of calls received by the public are handled over the phone. And should you encounter a poisoning situation in and around your vehicle, help is just a button push away with OnStar.
To prevent in-vehicle poisonings, Children’s Hospital of Michigan Poison Control Center recommends the following:
- Keep your purse shut and out of reach so little ones aren’t tempted to investigate its contents, especially items like medicine or makeup.
- Store emergency maintenance items, such as motor oil, antifreeze and brake fluid, in the trunk. Make sure they’re in their original containers and never in empty food or drink containers, where they could be mistaken for something edible.
- Regularly empty your vehicle’s ashtray to keep kids from swallowing cigarette butts.
- Place groceries in the trunk so children won’t get into household products.
- Avoid storing spray bottles or aerosol cans in your vehicle. That waterproofing spray that came with your new shoes, for example, can get into eyes and coat the lungs when sprayed inside the vehicle.
For more poisoning prevention tips, check out the American Association of Poison Control Centers Web site.
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Tags: Safety