Each spring you stock up on lawn and garden supplies. You buy
fertilizer to make your lawn thick and green; spray herbicides or
pesticides to control unsightly weeds and lawn destroying insects; and
plant gardening fertilizers to keep your vegetable garden growing.
“Pesticides are the most dangerous in this group, especially insect
killing agents, which may be very poisonous,” says Gary Wasserman,
D.O., chief of the Medical Toxicology department at Children’s Mercy
Hospitals and Clinics. “Before applying pesticides, make sure children
and their toys are away from the area and keep them away until the
pesticide has dried.”
If lawn-care products get in the wrong hands, it can create real safety
concerns.
“If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind for a child. Always store your
lawn supplies away from children's reach, in a locked cabinet or garden
shed,” says Dr. Wasserman. “If you’re storing lawn supplies in the
garage, make sure they’re on a high shelf that a child can’t climb up
to.”
What to do if your child comes into contact with lawn or garden
supplies:
- Swallowed poison: Take the item from her and have her spit any
remaining substance. Don’t make her vomit; some products will cause
more damage if she vomits.
- Skin poison: Remove his clothes and rinse the skin with room
temperature water for at least 15 minutes. Throw away contaminated
clothing or thoroughly wash it separately from other laundry.
- Eye poison: Flush her eye by holding the eyelid open and
pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner
corner. Do not use eye drops in the wash water.
- Poisonous fumes: Take him outside or into fresh air
immediately. If he’s stopped breathing, start CPR and don’t stop until
he breathes on his own or until someone can take over.
If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or
seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911. Otherwise, call
your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 for information and
treatment advice.
