 |
Use Insect Repellant Safely
|
|
DEET is an insect repellent. It is sold widely in different concentrations, usually as a lotion, spray, or wipe to be used on the skin.
DEET offers important protection, but must be used safely. Here are some tips:
- Apply insect repellents according to label directions, only to exposed skin.
- Apply only as often as the label recommends. Usually, that means only once a day.
- When you return indoors, shower or wash your skin with soap and water.
- When applying DEET to children, apply it first to your hands and then to their faces and skin. Avoid their hands, eyes, and mouths.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that products containing DEET not be used on children under the age of 2 months.
- Sunscreens and products containing DEET can be used together.
If you get insect repellent in your eyes, rinse them in the shower or under running water for 15 minutes, then call your local Poison Center in Texas at 1-800-222-1222.
If someone swallows insect repellent, give a small amount of water to drink, then call your local Poison Center in Texas right away.
|
|
|
|
Pesticides and Child Safety
|
|  |
|
Although pesticides can be beneficial to society, they can be dangerous if used carelessly or if they are not stored properly and out of the reach of children.
Bathrooms and kitchens were cited as the areas in the home most likely to have improperly stored pesticides. Examples of some common household pesticides in bathrooms and kitchens include roach sprays; rat poison; insect and wasp sprays, repellents and baits; and, flea and tick shampoos and dips for pets. Other household pesticides include weed killers.
The EPA has important authority over pesticides in the United States under the pesticide law (the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act). Since 1981, the law has required most residential-use pesticides with a signal word of "danger" or "warning" to be in child-resistant packaging. These are the pesticides which are most toxic to children. Child-resistant packaging is designed to delay children's access, but it does not prevent them from gaining access to pesticides or other products. Individuals must also take precautions to protect children from accidental pesticide poisonings or exposures.
|
|
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL POISONING:
- Always store pesticides away from children's reach, in a locked cabinet or garden shed.
- Read the label first and follow the directions to the letter, including all precautions and restrictions.
- Before applying pesticides (indoors and outdoors), remove children and their toys as well as pets from the area and keep them away until the pesticide has dried or as long as is recommended by the label.
- If your use of a pesticide is interrupted (perhaps by a phone call), properly re-close the package and be sure to leave the container out of the reach of children while you are gone.
- Never transfer pesticides to other containers that children may associate with food or drink.
- Never place rodent or insect baits where small children can get to them.
- Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container tightly after use.
- Alert others to the potential hazard of pesticides, especially care givers and grandparents.
- Teach children that "pesticides are poisons" - something they should not touch.
- Keep the telephone number of your area Poison Center near your telephone.
For information about safe pesticide use or for a possible poisoning, call toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to your local Poison Center in Texas at 1-800-222-1222!
|
|
|
|
|
|
