Although organic gardeners take care to minimize the harmful chemicals in their garden shed, nearly any product can cause harm if accidentally ingested.
This year, National Poison Prevention Week falls on March 16-22. This is an excellent time to take stock of your garden products, and make sure you are practicing safe handling and storage techniques. Although organic gardeners eschew the use of toxic pesticides and herbicides in the garden, that doesn’t mean that our natural alternatives won’t cause any harm if ingested. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are at greater risk for accidental poisoning when in the care of others, such as friends or family members. If these caregivers don’t have children, they may not be accustomed to locking up their dangerous household chemicals.
Here are some tips to keep your family safe:
- Keep garden products in their original containers. Never store excess garden products in old food containers, such as margarine tubs or milk jugs.
- Install childproof locks on cabinets that contain garden chemicals, even if the cabinets are in an out-of-the-way place like the garage.
- Post the phone number of the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) near your garden product storage area. Call 911 and/or the poison control center if you think a child may have ingested any garden product.
- Know that poisoning can happen by other routes than ingestion. Some garden products, including organic garden products, can harm the skin or release vapors that can damage the eyes or lungs. These types of exposures may require medical attention as well.
