[NFBOH-Cleveland] Cleaning products and poison concerns: Staying safe during COVID-19

[Suzanne Turner]

Cleaning products and poison concerns: Staying safe during COVID-19

During the pandemic, fear of spreading germs has turned average people into
virtual germaphobes. Most of us are cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing
every high-touch surface in our homes, cars and workplaces. But going too
far or failing to use safety precautions can also pose serious risks.

 

Calls to the Drug and Poison Information Center for exposure to cleaners and
disinfectants increased dramatically in March and April.  Cleaning products
have the potential to be toxic if used incorrectly. In fact, it is the #2
reason why people call poison centers in the US. Some concerning trends
include mixing cleaning products, children getting into dangerous cleaning
supplies, and both children and older adults accidently ingesting cleaning
products.

 

Some examples include a one-year-old caught possibly ingesting hand
sanitizer, a 63-year-old who mixed bleach, ammonia and multi-surface cleaner
together in hot water and inhaled the fumes, a toddler who sprayed himself
in the eyes with bleach cleaner, and an older adult who left bleach in a cup
on the counter and accidently picked up the cup and drank from it.

 

Fortunately, none of them were seriously hurt. However, these cases
highlight the potential dangers of mixing chemicals and how easily accidents
can happen. So, here are a few warnings and tips on how to safely disinfect
your home.

Warnings

*         Do not mix cleaning products. Combining certain products,
especially those including bleach and ammonia, can produce very harmful
fumes.Inhaling could cause coughing and serious breathing problems.

*         Do not ingest cleaning products. Drinking bleach or other
chemicals will not prevent COVID-19 infections and could cause serious
injury.

*         Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine. While these prescription
medicines are used to treat some medical conditions, Chloroquine and
hydroxychloroquine can cause serious illness and death when taken
inappropriately, or in overdose. If this medication is prescribed to you,
follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not take these
medications if they are not prescribed to you.

*         Azithromycin. This antibiotic is used to treat or prevent
infections, most commonly associated with the lungs. However, inappropriate
use can lead to unwanted bacterial resistance along with mild symptoms of
stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness.



How to safely disinfect -The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommends using diluted bleach solutions on frequently-touched surfaces.
Hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60% is recommended for
killing COVID-19 on the hands, especially when soap and water is
unavailable.

 

To safely disinfect for COVID-19, the Drug and Poison Information Center
recommends using and storing cleaning products by:

*         Keeping products 'up and away,' out of the sight and reach of
children and pets. Children under the age of 6 are the most likely to
mistake a cleaning product for something to eat or drink.

*         Leaving products in their original, labeled containers. If you
transfer a cleaning product into a food or beverage container someone may
accidentally swallow it. This can cause problems for the stomach.

*         Covering skin and eyes. Some cleaning products, including bleach,
are caustic. This means that they can cause burns when swallowed or
sprayed/splashed into the skin or eyes.

*         Supervising young children if they are helping you clean. Children
commonly lick their hands, and while a taste of bleach is unlikely to be a
problem, more significant quantities can cause symptoms.

*         If someone becomes exposed to or ingests a cleaning product call
the Drug and Poison Information Center at 

800-222-1222

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