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Hidden Poisons In Your Home

Poisons hide in the most obscure and unexpected places, and things. When it is ingested, every minute that comes thereafter counts. The sooner it is removed from your child’s stomach, the better the prognosis can and will be. What do parents exactly know about poisoning? There are things you can do to make your home safe. At least, whenever you won’t be around, you can rest easy and know that your baby will forever be safe.

Any substance may be poisonous when introduced to the body in substantial amounts, eventually causing it harm. A child may unknowingly be exposed to very harmful substances in the home or he may accidentally drink something that’s not actually dangerous but still may hurt him. As his body is still delicate and developing, even just a small amount can do significant damage. And among common household substances, kerosene seems to be the number one culprit, specifically those kept in juice bottles. Mistaken for clear soda and served to the child, it could prove more so dangerous, even deadly.

Medicine out in the open is also a cause of concern. When your baby starts to reach for things that aren’t for him, the medication that could actually be for you could damage his liver. Household products such as cleaning agents, soap, and insecticides can be perilous as well. That’s why all these things must be kept out of reach and stored in cupboards that are too high to climb.

Keep a close eye on things because accidental poisoning may be ingested, inhaled, absorbed, or injected. Some incidents have immediate effect while others may actually take years to manifest. Long-term exposure to hazardous chemicals can affect and hinder a child’s growing body. Meanwhile, complications like cancer and respiratory problems are diagnosed much later on in his life. You’ll know if your little one has been poisoned if you see unusual stains and odors on his clothes or skin, a funny smell in his breath, and if he experiences drowsiness, tummy ache, sweating, drooling, vomiting, and other sudden changes in his behavior. However, for every chemical, there are different accompanying symptoms. There are thousands of substances and you simply cannot categorize general signs and symptoms. It actually depends on what he took in.

Once you suspect that he’s ingested something, don’t wait for the symptoms to come out. Bring him to the doctor immediately and have him tested. If you are able to prove something, administer first aid immediately. This may spell the difference between life and death. Arrange a trip to the hospital as soon as possible. Try to identify the product so that your doctor can prescribe appropriate treatment. Check your surroundings for opened or broken bottles. Examine the mouth as well and clear away all that you can. Rinse and wipe with cloth as well and give him water to drink. Better yet, you can get rid of the poison if you’re able to induce vomiting. Sometimes, the presence of a lot of water alone can do the trick. Keep him awake until you get to the hospital. Nonetheless, all these can just be prevented if you remain vigilant and responsible in handling household items.

Baby Proofing Home

Parents, especially new ones, often leave out the basic rules of safety. It is often the lack of experience or knowledge that gets them into trouble. Sometimes, these accidents are often minor. However, some of these instances have claimed the lives of infants. The number of children injured or killed has grown over the years. However, this number can decrease significantly simply by installing safety devices that are widely available today. They are easy to use and very effective when the instructions are followed.

One basic device is a safety latch or lock: this prevents your child accessing cabinets with harmful materials. Nothing is actually 100% safe, but it helps if you make it more difficult for your child to reach those areas. Another vital device is a safety gate. What this does is to keep your child away from a particular area such as a flight of stairs.

When it comes to avoiding burns, there are also anti-scald devices available out on the market. You can use these on faucets so that you can regulate the water temperature. To install this, you may need a plumber. Of course, an absolute must are smoke detectors in case of an actual fire. On your end, you need to make sure they work by checking regularly. The batteries can run out, and on average, these can power the device for up to a year.

Since children do tend to be more active when they grow, the chances of them running into your furniture are high. What you need are corner and edge bumpers. Place the rounded tips at the sides of the table or cabinet so that you soften the sharp edges. If you also happen to have a lot of outlets on the lower areas of your walls, buying an outlet cover is a must. Children are curious by nature and when they see a socket exposed, they can stick their fingers in them. To prevent electrocution, you must cover each of them and make sure that your child cannot remove them easily. Also make sure that they are large enough so that your child will not choke on them in case they put one in their mouth.

You have to realize that even if you take these precautions, your child is still not 100% safe. As long as they don’t have adult supervision, things can always happen. You have to be vigilant about considering every room in the house and checking for potentially dangerous objects. Things that appear completely safe may still pose some danger. What are most needed here are alertness and common sense. It helps to view the room from an angle as low as your baby. Purchase some forms of padding so that you know your child won’t bump into hard surfaces. Keep breakables on high shelves or in a cabinet.

In case you are still not sure about the safety of your house, consult a professional or ask the help of an experienced parent. You can ask for or get the services of the people with the perfect know-how. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but your efforts will definitely pay off in the end.

Is it a harmless symptom or a genuine cause for alarm? Surely this has happened to most mothers. A scary symptom shows in your precious little one, and you rush to the emergency room. When you’ve rendezvoused with doctors several times in a short span of time and you were just sent home each and every single time, you begin to wonder whether or not you were just being too much of an alarmist. How can you tell if something is worthy of a midnight trip to the emergency room? Well, it’s always best to consult a doctor when your child complains of any pain or discomfort. One symptom can have any number of possible diagnoses. A tummy pain can be a sign of diarrhea, appendicitis, or urinary tract infection. The point is, you simply cannot second-guess if your baby’s health or life is at stake.

It’s necessary to educate parents of common childhood illnesses. It’s better to err on the safe side and keep yourself well-informed. After all, positive panic is a natural response to the unknown. With more time and experience, parents will be able to distinguish between major and minor illnesses. It is imperative that you also learn to evaluate your child’s distress calls and identify a safe whimper from a serious sob.

For stomach pains, it is good to take note on how your child looks. If they are pale and are sweating profusely, check their bowel movements. Diarrhea only lasts for a day or two if it’s not too serious. This could have simply been caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Some children suffer from indigestion more than others if they are extremely sensitive to food. What you need to do is stay close and observe other symptoms. If there is abdominal pain, nausea, and fever that do not go away immediately, call your pediatrician for advice. Paracetamol for the pain and oral rehydration fluids are commonly given at first. It helps to be calm unless you observe three or more other symptoms present. If there is no improvement even after all the medicines the doctor has given, ask the hospital for a stool sample. Dehydration is especially scary for infants and only a doctor can prescribe the proper medication.

For constant vomiting, that could be food poisoning or an internal injury. If it’s just a case of indigestion, it’s not going to be fatal and dangerous. Stay calm even if watching your child vomit is scary enough as it is. They key solution here is to provide them with lots of fluids. If there are signs of dehydration such as dry mouth or skin, infrequent urination, or weakness, ask your doctor how you can make your child take the fluids that they need. However, tummy pains and vomiting aren’t the only things you should be watchful for. If you’re child has had that cough for more than a week, you definitely need to see your doctor. Whether it’s a mild respiratory ailment or something bigger, you need to make sure that you are giving them the medicines to help strengthen them when they are at their weakest.

Lastly, it is natural for parents to panic. Don’t feel bad that you over think a lot of these things. It is your right and privilege to know what is happening to your child at all times.