Preventing Accidental Poisoning in Young Children in Brampton

Young children explore the world with their hands and mouths. It is how they learn. Unfortunately, it also means that ordinary household products, many of which adults use without a second thought, can become serious hazards in a toddler’s hands. Most poisonings in young children happen at home, often in the few minutes when a parent is answering the door, helping another child or making dinner.

Medicines are one important part of the picture, and we covered storage in our earlier article on safe medicine storage for families. This article looks more broadly at the products and situations that lead to poisonings and other harmful exposures, room by room, and explains what to do if something happens.

At Pharmasave BramNorth, 25 & 26 - 2 Dewside Drive, our pharmacists are happy to answer questions about specific products and help families think through safety at home.

Why toddlers are at the highest risk

Children between about one and four years old are at the greatest risk of accidental poisoning. They are mobile, curious and able to open containers, but they do not yet understand danger. Their small body size also means that a small amount of a substance can have a large effect.

Toddlers often copy what they see adults do. Watching a parent take a pill, spray a cleaner or pop a gummy vitamin can spark imitation. Bright colours, attractive packaging and pleasant smells make many products look like food or drinks.

The kitchen and laundry area

The kitchen and laundry room contain many of the most common hazards:

• Laundry and dishwasher detergent pods. These colourful, squishy packets look like candy or toys. If bitten, they can release concentrated detergent that may cause choking, vomiting, breathing problems and eye injuries. Keep them in their original container, closed, up high and locked if possible.
• Cleaning products. Bleach, oven cleaner, drain cleaner and dishwasher detergent can cause burns to the mouth, throat and stomach.
• Alcohol. Drinks left out after a gathering, as well as products like mouthwash, hand sanitizer and some flavouring extracts, can cause dangerously low blood sugar and other effects in young children.
• Vitamins and supplements kept near food. Gummy vitamins in particular look like candy. Iron-containing supplements are especially dangerous to young children.

Store products in their original containers. Never put chemicals in food or drink containers, such as pop bottles or yogurt tubs.

Bathrooms and bedrooms

Bathrooms and bedrooms often hold medicines, personal care products and other items:

• Medicines on nightstands, vanities and in purses.
• Mouthwash, nail polish remover and perfume, some of which contain alcohol or other harmful ingredients.
• Hair products and cosmetics, such as hair relaxers or dyes.
• Essential oils. Some, such as camphor, eucalyptus, wintergreen and tea tree oil, can be very harmful if swallowed, even in small amounts.
• Topical medicines like diaper creams, muscle rubs and acne treatments.

Keep bathroom cabinets locked or use high storage. Put away products immediately after use.

Button batteries and magnets

Small, round button batteries, found in remote controls, key fobs, toys, watches, thermometers, hearing aids and greeting cards, are a serious danger. If swallowed, a button battery can become lodged in the esophagus and cause severe burns within hours. Symptoms may not be obvious at first.

Small high-powered magnets, found in some toys and desk gadgets, can also cause serious internal injuries if more than one is swallowed, since they can attract each other through the walls of the intestines.

Check that battery compartments on devices are secured with a screw. Store spare and used batteries out of reach and dispose of them safely. If you suspect a child has swallowed a button battery or magnets, go to the emergency department immediately, even if they seem fine.

Cannabis edibles and nicotine products

Since cannabis was legalised in Canada, poison centres have reported cases of young children eating cannabis edibles. Edibles often look like regular candies, chocolates or baked goods. Children can become very unwell, with symptoms such as extreme drowsiness, difficulty breathing or seizures.

If anyone in your household uses cannabis, store it in a locked container, separate from regular food, and out of reach. Keep it in child-resistant packaging. Make sure visitors know to keep their products secure too.

Nicotine products, including vaping liquids, nicotine gum, patches and cigarettes, are also dangerous to children. Liquid nicotine can be absorbed through the skin and is very harmful if swallowed. See our post on vaping and teens for more on keeping these products safe.

Garages, basements and outdoor spaces

Areas outside the main living space are easy to overlook:

• Windshield washer fluid and antifreeze, which can be extremely toxic. Antifreeze may taste sweet.
• Gasoline, oils and lighter fluid.
• Pesticides, fertilisers and rodent poisons.
• Paint, paint thinner and solvents.
• Pool and hot tub chemicals.
• Plants and mushrooms in the yard, some of which are toxic.

Store these items in locked cabinets or on high shelves, in their original labelled containers. Keep children out of the garage and shed when products are in use.

Carbon monoxide: the invisible hazard

Not every poisoning involves something a child swallows. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas produced when fuels such as natural gas, propane, oil or wood burn incompletely. Furnaces, water heaters, gas stoves, fireplaces and vehicles running in an attached garage can all be sources. During Brampton’s long heating season, when windows stay closed, the risk is higher.

Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as headache, nausea, dizziness and tiredness, can be mistaken for the flu. Children may be affected sooner than adults. A clue is when several people in the home, or pets, feel unwell at the same time and feel better after leaving the house.

Ontario requires working carbon monoxide alarms in homes with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. Install alarms near sleeping areas, test them regularly and replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Have fuel-burning appliances inspected yearly, never run a car in a closed garage, and never use barbecues or generators indoors. If an alarm sounds, get everyone outside to fresh air and call 911 from outside.

Visitors, travel and other homes

Many poisonings happen when routines change. Holidays, family gatherings and visits to grandparents’ homes may bring children close to medicines and products that are not normally around. In Brampton’s many multigenerational households, older relatives may have medicines that are particularly harmful to children, such as those for heart conditions or diabetes.

Before visits, a friendly conversation about storing medicines and products can prevent problems. When travelling, keep medicines in child-resistant containers and store them out of reach in hotel rooms and relatives’ homes.

Busy moments are high-risk moments. During a festival meal, a birthday party or the chaos of unpacking after a trip, adults are distracted and bags are left open on beds and floors. Assign one adult to keep an eye on the youngest children during these times, and put guests’ coats and bags in a closed room. A quick sweep of tables and counters after guests leave can catch leftover drinks, open pill organisers or cannabis products that were set down and forgotten.

What to do if exposure happens

Acting quickly makes a difference. If you think your child has swallowed, inhaled or touched a harmful substance:

1. Stay calm and remove the product from your child.
2. Check your child. If they are unconscious, having trouble breathing, having a seizure or very unwell, call 911 right away.
3. For swallowed substances, remove anything left in the mouth. Do not try to make your child vomit unless a professional tells you to.
4. For skin exposure, remove contaminated clothing and rinse the skin with lukewarm water.
5. For eye exposure, rinse the eye with lukewarm water for several minutes.
6. Call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017. Specialists are available at all hours and will tell you what to do next.
7. Keep the container so you can provide product details.

Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Some poisons cause delayed effects. If you are told to go to hospital, bring the container with you.

Making a household poison-prevention plan

A few steps can significantly lower risk:

• Do a walk-through at your child’s eye level, crawling if necessary, to spot hazards.
• Install safety latches or locks on cabinets containing chemicals and medicines.
• Save the Ontario Poison Centre number in every caregiver’s phone and post it on the fridge.
• Teach older children never to touch or taste unknown products.
• Review your setup as your child grows, since what is out of reach for a one-year-old may be accessible to a three-year-old.

Health Canada also provides general consumer product safety information, and the Parachute organisation offers injury prevention resources for families.

Questions about a product? Ask us

If you are unsure whether a product in your home could be harmful, or want advice on safely storing or disposing of medicines, our pharmacists are here to help. We also accept unused medicines for disposal; ask us about returns when you visit. If an older family member takes several medicines, a medication review may help identify products that are no longer needed, and compliance packs can reduce the number of loose bottles in the house; ask whether either suits your household.

Visit Pharmasave BramNorth at 25 & 26 - 2 Dewside Drive, Brampton, ON L6R 3Y5, or call (905) 792-7333. Check our contact page for store details, or arrange a time to talk through our booking page.

This article is general safety information. In a poisoning emergency, call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017 or 911 right away rather than relying on online information.