Common Toxins in Your Home
Segment Overview
KSHB 41 news anchor interviews Peggy Kinamore of the Missouri Poison Center about common household toxins, including hand sanitizers, personal care products, cleaning products, and medications that can be mistaken for food or candy by children.
Key points covered:
- Cases of children using hand sanitizer to get drunk jumped 400% since 2010.
- The Missouri Poison Center received over 500 calls about hand sanitizer in 2011, with most involving unintentional exposure in children under 6.
- Many household products are poisons when used in the wrong way, in the wrong amount, or by the wrong person.
- Look-alike hazards include rat poison pellets that resemble cereal or candy, skin cream tubes that resemble cake icing, and medicines that look like Skittles.
- The top three poison categories in children are analgesics, personal care products, and cleaners.
- Don’t wait for symptoms — call 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you suspect a poisoning.
- Keep all potentially dangerous products up, away, and out of sight of children.