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Summer Poison Prevention Tips

Poisons are everywhere and a poisoning can happen quickly at any time.  However, certain types of poisonings are more likely to occur during certain times of the year.  During the summer season, spending time outdoors, means you can be exposed to common summer poison hazards that include toxic plants, garden chemicals and stinging insects.  Below is a list of some of the most common poisons encountered each summer. Follow the poison prevention tips to help make your summer fun and safe

Stings from Flying Insects:  Bees, yellow jackets, wasps and hornets. Poison Prevention Tips:  Do not panic when a flying insect approaches.  Move away from the insect without waving your hands and arms.  Avoid attracting insects by keeping trash cans covered and by putting leftover food away. Avoid wearing bright colored clothing and perfume because you will look and smell like a flower -bees like flowers.  Wear a Medic-Alert bracelet if you have a history of a life-threatening allergic reaction.  Ask your physician about prescribing an emergency bee sting kit to have in an emergency.

Snakes Bites: In the summer, snakes seek shelter from the sun under rocks, bushes, in caves, and animal burrows.  At night when it is cooler, snakes become active hunting their prey.  Venomous snakes that live in New Mexico include the prairie, western diamondback, rock, Mojave, ridgenose, and massasauga rattlesnake and the coral snake. Poison Prevention Tips:   Always be aware of your surroundings. Do not reach into cracks in rocks, animal burrows or under bushes.  Be aware of where you sit especially in shady areas. Do not tease, kill or handle a rattlesnake.   If you encounter a snake, do not panic or blindly run away without looking carefully where you are going.

Pesticides – A chemical used to kill pests.  The two most common are insecticides and herbicides. Insecticides are chemicals used to kill insects.  Herbicides are chemicals used to kill plants. Poison Prevention Tips:   Follow pesticide labels directions. Keep pesticides locked up where children cannot see them or reach them.  Keep pesticides in their original containers.  Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container tightly after use. Never place rodent or insect baits where children can get them.

Plants  – Many outdoor and indoor plants are poisonous. Poison Prevention Tips:  Know the names of your indoor and outdoor plants and find out if they are poisonous.  Keep all poisonous plants, bulbs, seeds and plant foods where children cannot reach them.  Teach children not to put leaves, stems, bark, berries, seeds or nuts from any plant into their mouths.

Mushrooms – Avoid with wild mushrooms. Poison Prevention Tips:  Check your yard regularly for mushrooms, especially after a rainfall.  Remove any mushrooms in your yard and throw them away.  Teach children never to touch, taste or eat any outdoor mushrooms.

Hydrocarbons -  Be careful with gasoline, kerosene and charcoal lighter fluid. Poison Prevention Tips:  Follow the directions when using the products and keep them in their original labeled containers. Open containers carefully and keep the products locked up where children cannot see them or reach them.

Pool Chemicals – Swimming pool products like chlorine contain dangerous chemicals that can poison you if you use them in the wrong way and in the wrong amount. Poison Prevention Tips:   Follow label directions when using pool chemicals.  Keep products in their original labeled containers. Open containers carefully and keep the products stored locked up where children cannot see them or reach them.

Food Poisoning - Do not let food poisoning ruin your summer picnic or camping trips. Poison Prevention Tips:  Keep “cold” foods cold and “hot” food hot before and after serving. Thoroughly cook all foods according to standard guidelines.  Pack soap and water and wash your hands carefully before handling food.  Put leftovers in the ice chest right away.

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