Free Springtime Poison Safety Tips

FARMINGTON — Warmer weather signals springtime chores. Outdoors, homeowners are busy preparing their gardens, removing winter debris, fertilizing, repotting indoor plants, and spending more time with plant and garden tasks. Indoors, they are bringing out the heavy artillery in cleaning products to wash windows, scrub tiles, clean rugs and upholstery, and countless other chores.

Children are usually happy to be alongside Mom and Dad while they work, but experts at Connecticut’s Poison Control Center at UConn Health Center warn that children can soon become bored and begin to explore.

“Curious by nature, youngsters are naturally attracted by berries, flowers, and leaves,” said community education specialist Amy Hanoian. “Parents should be aware of what plants are potentially dangerous and be able to recognize them.” If ingested, common plants such as iris, lily of the valley, daisies, rhododendrons, azalea, and philodendron, to name a few, can result in a toxic response, including swelling, gastrointestinal problems, and heart irregularities, according to the CPCC educator.

Indoors, cleaning usually involves a variety of products, from a nontoxic vinegar/water solution to a highly toxic stove cleaner. Ms Hanoian says it is extremely important to always follow the directions and safety recommendations on the product label. “Most poisonings happen when a product is in use, but cleaning materials should be out of the reach of young children at all times, whether they’re in use or stored away. We recommend cabinets that can be locked.”

Free informational brochures, Spring Poison Safety Tips and Know Your Plants, are available by request. Also available are 18- by-24-inch posters that depict potentially fatal products such as gasoline, medications, and more. The posters are sponsored by a grant from the Keep Kids Safe License Plate Program.

To request a free brochure or poster, leave a message at 860-679-3531, stating selection, name, address, and phone number.

Anyone who suspects a poisoning should call the toll-free national poison help line at 800-222-1222 to be connected to the closest Poison Control Center. Do not call the emergency line for educational materials.

Visit the Connecticut Poison Control Center’s website at poisoncontrol.uchc.edu/ for more information about poison prevention and safety.