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April 8, 2000
MEDICAL CENTER REMINDS YOU ABOUT SAFE SPRING CLEANING TIPS
The milder days of spring have arrived and for many this marks an annual event: Spring Cleaning. Hackensack University Medical Center's Public Relations Department and The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES), the state's poison control center, encourage anyone preparing for this task to keep these precautions in mind:
Ventilation - Good ventilation with good movement of fresh air is the key to getting strong odors from cleaning products out of the house. Simply opening a window is not enough to eliminate dangerous fumes or odors. You may want to use a fan to circulate fresh air into the area you are cleaning.
Don't mix products - Two products combined can produce toxic results. Never combine cleaning products and always read the labels and use as directed.
Try to clean when children and pets are NOT present - Keep products locked up. If you have to stop cleaning and a young child or pet is present, put away the product or take the child or pet with you. Never leave a child or a pet alone with a cleaning product or other poison. Like children, pets like sweet smelling products.
Consider using less toxic alternatives to common cleaning products - In many cases alternatives and safer solutions for cleaning the home exist. Refer to the National Safety Council web site for some ideas. ww.nsc.org/ehc/indoor/altchems.htm
Common cleaning products that can be poisonous include furniture polish, bleach, and ammonia. Many other products contain ingredients that may be irritating to the skin or eyes. Some products are packaged in child-resistant containers, but these are not necessarily child-proof. It is still possible for children to get into hazardous products.
If you suspect a poisoning call the poison center for immediate treatment advice, as well as for prevention information. Call 1-800-POISON-1, trained medical professionals will provide you with the most up-to-date emergency medical advice, and will answer any drug or poison information question you may have.
Hackensack University Medical Center
30 Prospect Avenue · Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601 · (201) 996-2000