Is your home poison-safe? Each year, millions of people are accidentally poisoned in their own homes. Although adults experience poisoning accidents, the majority of them happen to young children.

Records show that 91 percent of all poisonings happen in the home. Most (86 percent) poisonings are accidental, and most happen to children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. Normal, healthy, curious children sometimes swallow, inhale or spill household cleaning products, medicines, plants or personal care items, occasionally with tragic results. Many of these accidents can be prevented with a little care. Don't let your child become a victim! Take this test today. Quickly fix all "no" answers to make sure your home is as poison-safe as it can be.

Y N - Do all harmful products used or stored in the kitchen or laundry have child-resistant caps?

Products like furniture polishes, drain cleaners and some oven cleaners should have safety packaging to keep little children from accidentally opening the packages.

Y N - Do all storage cabinets easily reached by young children or pets have locks or safety latches?

The best way to prevent poisoning is to make sure that it's impossible to find and get at the poisons. Locking all cabinets that hold dangerous products is the best poison prevention.

Y N - Are all potentially harmful products, such as drain cleaners or bleach, still stored in their original containers with labels intact?

There are two dangers if products aren't stored in their original containers: Labels on the original containers often give first aid information if someone should swallow the product; and, if products are stored in containers like drinking glasses or pop bottles, someone may think they are food and swallow them.

Y N - If interrupted while using a household cleaning product, do you take it with you?

Y N - As soon as you finish using any product, do you return it to a safe storage area?

Y N - Are all harmful products, such as insecticide, stored away from food?

Y N - Do you read product warning labels BEFORE use?

Y N - Do you safely dispose of used household cleaning products and their containers?

Y N - Do you refrigerate cooked foods soon after serving?

Y N - Do you regularly disinfect counter tops and cutting boards with a bleach solution?

Many household products are brightly colored and packaged attractively enough like food containers to confuse children. Remember: most children under 5 cannot read labels, and curious young children put almost everything they get in their hands into their mouths. Strong smells do not stop children from tasting things such as bleach, gasoline, lamp oil and lighter fluid. Anything dangerous left within reach of a young child is a potential accident!

Y N - Are all medicines stored safely out of sight and reach of young children?

Y N - Do you teach by example as well as word that medicines, vitamins and cleaning products are to be used with care and under adult supervision?

Most people think of vitamins and minerals as foods; and, therefore, nontoxic, but a few iron pills can kill a child.

Y N - Do you give medicine only to the person for whom it is prescribed?

Y N - Are all medications kept in their original containers with labels intact?

Y N - Do all medications have child-resistant caps?

Y N - Do you always check medication labels BEFORE giving or taking it?

Y N - Do you regularly and safely dispose of all out-of-date medications?

As medicines get older, the chemicals inside them can change; so, what was once a good medicine may now be a dangerous poison. Flush all old drugs down the toilet. Rinse the container well, then discard it.

Y N - Are bathroom counters, windowsills and ledges free of beauty supplies, harmful cleaning   products, alcohols, perfumes and antiseptics?

Y N - Are all toxic cleaners stored out of the reach of young children and pets?

Y N - Are all toxic plants out of reach?

Y N - Are all tabletops kept free of cigarettes, ashtrays, matches, lighters and alcohol when there are young children in the home?

Y N - Are children and pets always kept out of the way of major projects such as pesticide treatments, painting, carpet cleaning and floor stripping?

Y N - Do you use non-toxic holiday decorations?

Y N - Do you clean up soon after parties where alcohol is served?

Y N - Are all hazardous products, such as paint thinner, weed killers, charcoal lighter fluid, antifreeze and pesticides packaged with child-resistant caps?

Y N - Are all hazardous products stored in locked cabinets out of reach of young children and pets?

Y N - Are all hazardous products kept in their original containers, with labels intact?

Y N - Do you always read product precautions BEFORE use and follow safety recommendations during and after use?

Y N - Do you wear protective gear and clothing such as goggles and gloves when working with toxic products?

Y N - Do you clean up soon after projects such as furniture stripping, staining, or automotive maintenance or repairs?

Y N - Do you regularly rid your home safely of hazardous materials through fire department or local government disposal programs?

Y N - Are gas appliances regularly checked for safety?

Hazardous products can be deadly if used, stored or disposed of improperly. Some young children have been accidentally poisoned after taking containers from the trash and swallowing the dregs of a household chemical product. Rinse used containers before discarding them.

Y N - Are bedside tables and dressers free of medicines, alcohol, cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays?

Y N - Are colognes, aftershaves, perfumes or nail polish removers kept out of reach of young children?

Y N - Are walls, windowsills and woodwork free of flaking paint?

Y N - Are cribs, playpens, toy boxes and toys treated with non-toxic materials and kept free of flaking paint?

Y N - Do you regularly check for and remove lawn mushrooms?

Y N - Do you check for black widow spider infestations in corners, storage areas and woodpiles?

Y N - Do you use fertilizers and pesticides with care?

Excerpts from University of California - Davis Website and U.S. Consumer Product Safety

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