Overview

Many of the items in our homes can be poisonous to children. Examples are household cleaners, medicines, cosmetics, garden products, and houseplants. If these items aren't kept out of reach, your child could swallow, breathe in, or eat these toxins or get them on their skin.

Young children have the highest risk of poisoning because of their natural curiosity.

If you have a possible poisoning emergency, call a poison centre (1-844-POISON-X or 1-844-764-7669) immediately. If the person is unconscious, not breathing, or having a seizure, call 911.

Common items to watch for

Here are some common items found at home that can cause poisoning.

• Prescription and over-the-counter medicines
• Cosmetics, nail care products, and perfumes
• Arts and crafts products, such as glue
• Bleach, dishwasher detergent, detergent pods, drain and toilet bowl cleaners, furniture polish, and other cleaning products
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Windshield washer fluid and antifreeze
• Turpentine products, kerosene, lye, lighter fluid, and paint thinners and solvents
• Garden products, especially products that kill insects, pests, or weeds
• Batteries and mothballs
• Edible cannabis (marijuana) and vape products

How can you help prevent poisoning in children?

Use the following tips to keep dangerous products or items away from children. (Products that are poisonous to children can also harm pets.)

• Choose the least hazardous product available for the job.

  Use the lowest-risk form and the smallest amount of product needed.

• Never leave a poisonous product unattended, even for a moment.

  Many poisonings occur when an adult becomes distracted by the doorbell, a telephone, or some other interruption.

• Keep household plants out of reach.

  Many are poisonous if they are chewed or ingested.

• Use childproof latches on your cupboards.

  And be careful of what you store in your bedside table and other cupboards that are lower than your shoulder height.

• Keep products in their original labelled containers.

  Never store poisonous products in food containers.

• Post emergency phone numbers.

  Keep the poison centre number (1-844-POISON-X or 1-844-764-7669) in your phone.

• Purchase items that are in child-resistant containers.
• Read product labels for caution statements and first aid instructions.

  This will help you know how to use the product correctly.

• Reduce your child's exposure to lead.

  Lead can sometimes be found in drinking water, foods, and other items in your home.

House and garden poisons

Use the following tips to keep dangerous house and garden products away from children.

• Keep products completely out of the reach and sight of children.

  Do not keep poisons, such as drain opener, detergent, oven cleaner, or plant food, under your kitchen sink.

• Use only non-toxic arts and crafts materials.
• Check your home for lead paint chips if your home was built before 1976.
• Don't forget your garage when poison-proofing your home.

  Keep poisons and flammables out of reach of children. For example, kerosene, lamp oil, gasoline, and fertilizers are all poisonous when ingested. Many products kept in garages also are fire hazards.

• Keep dangerous chemicals and fumes away from children.
  • Never mix chemicals.
  • Keep cleaners or chemicals in their original containers.
  • Only use chemicals in well-ventilated areas.

Alcohol, medicines, and other drugs

Use the following tips to keep alcohol, medicines, and other drugs away from children.

• Keep alcohol and medicines out of sight and reach.

  This includes natural health products like vitamins and supplements. Aspirin is a common source of childhood poisoning, especially flavoured "baby" aspirin.

• Keep cannabis (marijuana) out of sight and reach.

  All cannabis products, including cannabis that you can eat (edible), are a source of childhood poisoning. Some products may look like a harmless snack or candy to your child.

• Keep children away from tobacco products and vaping (e-cigarette) liquids.

  They contain nicotine. If a child swallows nicotine, they can get very ill or die.

• Keep all prescription and over-the-counter medicine, alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products, cannabis, and other drugs in their original containers. Most medicine bottles are packaged to prevent a child from opening them. Child-resistant caps on medicine bottles help but they’re not childproof. Other drugs may come in packaging, like plastic bags, that can be easily opened.
• Keep other drugs, such as ecstasy, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, locked up, out of sight, and out of reach. Exposure to even a tiny amount of any drugs can make your baby or child very sick or cause death. Exposure can happen in different ways, like breathing in second-hand smoke or vapour from drugs; being exposed through breastfeeding or breastmilk; transferring from clothing, hands, or skin to a baby or child’s body, toys, soothers, bottles, and other items; during diaper changes; or accidentally eating or touching drugs. Babies and children are in contact with their caregivers and everything in their environment, so exposure can also happen in many places, like in your home and other homes, in vehicles, and in public places.
• Keep all drug-related items, like bongs, pipes, lighters, needles, spoons, and fentanyl patches, locked up, out of sight, and out of reach of children. Anyone who comes in contact with drugs or drug-related items should wash their hands and change their clothes before handling or feeding a baby or child or touching toys or other items.
• Do not take medicines in front of your young child.

  Children like to mimic adult actions. They may eat something inappropriate in an attempt to be like you.

• Educate your child about the effects of alcohol and medicines.
• Never call medicines "candy."
• Keep medicines in their original labelled containers.
• Buy over-the-counter medicines that have child-resistant packages.
• Dispose of expired medicine safely.