Dangers in Your Yard

Each spring you stock up on lawn and garden supplies. You buy fertilizer to make your lawn thick and green; spray herbicides or pesticides to control unsightly weeds and lawn destroying insects; and plant gardening fertilizers to keep your vegetable garden growing.

“Pesticides are the most dangerous in this group, especially insect killing agents, which may be very poisonous,” says Gary Wasserman, D.O., chief of the Medical Toxicology Section at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. “Before applying pesticides, make sure children and their toys are away from the area, and keep them away until the pesticide has dried.”

If lawn-care products get in the wrong hands, it can create real safety concerns.

“If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind for a child. Always store your lawn supplies away from children's reach, in a locked cabinet or garden shed,” says Dr. Wasserman. “If you’re storing lawn supplies in the garage, make sure they’re on a high shelf that a child can’t climb up to reach.”

What to do if your child comes into contact with lawn or garden supplies:

Swallowed poison: Take the item from her and have her spit any remaining substance. Don’t make her vomit; some products will cause more damage if she vomits.

Skin poison: Remove his clothes and rinse the skin with room temperature water for at least 15 minutes. Throw away contaminated clothing or thoroughly wash it separately from other laundry.

Eye poison: Flush her eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner corner. Do not use eye drops in the wash water.

Poisonous fumes: Take him outside or into fresh air immediately. If he’s stopped breathing, start CPR and don’t stop until he breathes on his own or until someone can take over.

If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911. Otherwise, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 for information and treatment advice.