(NUI) - Have you ever wiped out your lawn along with the weeds, figuring that if some lawn treatment was good, more would be better? Have you ever made a second trip to the store because the cleaning product you bought was not right for the job, or made a dash for fresh air after mixing two cleaning products?
If so, you already know that reading the label first on household chemicals such as pesticides can save you time, trouble and money.
What you may not realize is that most pesticides, while useful for the control of common home and garden pests, can be harmful if label directions are not followed. Eight out of 10 American households contain pesticides such as cockroach sprays and baits, flea and tick sprays, weed killers, insect repellents and products that kill mold and mildew. However, many people fail to read product labels, which contain important information about use, storage, first aid and disposal of these potentially toxic products.
In 2003, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported 69,000 incidents of children exposed to pesticides and another 26,000 cases of children exposed to household bleach. Here are simple steps the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends you take to protect your family from pesticide poisoning.
* Always store household chemicals out of children's reach - preferably in a locked cabinet.
* Before applying pesticides or other household chemicals, remove children and their toys, as well as pets, from the area. Keep children and pets away until the pesticide has dried or as long as is recommended on the label.
* Read the label first. Pesticides can be dangerous or ineffective if too much or too little is used.
* If your use of a pesticide or other household chemical is interrupted, properly re-close the container and remove it from children's reach.
* Never transfer pesticides to other containers that children may associate with food or drink, and never place rodent or insect baits where small children can get to them.
* When applying insect repellents to children, read all directions and do not apply over cuts, wounds or irritated skin or to eyes, mouth, hands or directly on the face.
* Clean floors and wash children's hands, toys and bottles regularly. Have family members leave their shoes at the door to avoid tracking in dirt and pesticide residues.
* Scrub all fresh fruits and vegetables under running water or peel when possible. Consider buying organic produce or other products grown with minimal use of pesticides.
For more information on ways to protect your family from unnecessary exposure to pesticides, visit www.epa.gov/pesticides or call (800) 858-7378.
