Preventing Accidental Poisonings On The Farm

Background

• Youngsters aren't the only ones on the farm who accidentally come into contact with or swallow harmful substances.
• Too often, a harmful substance is mistaken for something else, like a soft drink.

Tips

• Read and follow directions on all labels before using a product.
• Always store products in their original containers until they are used up, then dispose of them.
• If you find an unmarked or unlabeled container, don't guess at the contents; throw it away.
• Keep container labels clean and dry so they'll be legible the next time you use the product.
• Teach family members and hired workers to read and follow label directions when they apply pesticides and/or use chemical products.
• Discuss label instructions with those who might not understand the printed word.
• Keep poisonous substances out of reach of children

Follow the Label

You wouldn't bake a cake without consulting the recipe, and you shouldn't use a pesticide, household cleaning product or medication without first reading the label. Let the label be your guide. Read it carefully before you use any product, then follow directions. Don't take shortcuts.

Youngsters aren't the only ones who accidentally come into contact with or swallow harmful substances, many times because they mistake the substance for something else, like a soft drink.

Some people transfer toxic products such as pesticides to other containers to conserve storage space. Later, they mistake the transferred product for the product originally in the container and may suffer serious illness or die after swallowing a harmful substance.

For example, there was a farmer who drank what he thought was a soft drink and became ill. Earlier he had poured a solvent into a soft drink bottle and capped it. Someone had picked up the bottle thinking it was a soft drink and put it in the refrigerator.

The following are safety tips for farmers and their families to keep them from becoming victims of accidental poisonings:

• Read and follow directions on all labels before you use a product.
• Always store products in their original containers until they are used up, and then dispose of them.
• If you find an unmarked or unlabeled container, don't guess at the contents. Throw it away.
• Keep containers clean and dry so labels will be legible the next time you use the product.
• Teach your family and hired workers to read and follow label directions when they apply pesticides and use chemical products. Discuss instructions with inexperienced workers who might not understand the printed word.
• Keep poisonous substances out of reach of children.