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Hazards, Where Are You Hiding?
Hidden Household Safety Dangers Often Overlooked
By Shannon McKelden
Locking cabinet doors, installing baby gates and keeping chemicals out of reach are all commonsense actions taken by parents with active little ones. But many hidden dangers aren't so obvious.
Drain cleaners, medicines and pesticides are automatically locked up when Baby becomes mobile. But seemingly safe items can be overlooked by even thorough parents.
Debra Holtzman, child safety expert and author of The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications, 2005), mentions several items not so evidently toxic, starting with alcohol. "Children are much more sensitive to the toxic effects of alcohol than adults," Holtzman says. "Alcohol can cause a child's blood sugar to plunge to a dangerously low level, which can lead to seizures, coma and even death in a young child."
But what contains alcohol? Actually many items not found in the liquor cabinet:
- Liquid hand sanitizers
- Mouthwash
- Perfumes
- Colognes
- Aftershave
- Cough and cold medications
- Vanilla extract
Many of these items may be found in purses. Other hidden handbag dangers include cosmetics, antacids, nail polish, etc. Remember that curious babies love to explore, and purses are treasure troves of potentially poisonous goodies. Keep them out of reach or locked up.
As the above list attests with the inclusion of alcohol-containing vanilla extract, even edible foods can be dangerous. Honey, for instance. "Never give honey to a baby under the age of 1," Holtzman says. "Honey may contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism, a rare but serious disease that affects the nervous system of young babies."
Another little known "food danger" is table salt. Holtzman warns that as little as half a teaspoon to an infant or a tablespoon to a toddler can cause damage to his central nervous system.
