There has been a noticeable increase in calls to poison centers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of the calls are reportedly do to chemical exposures and concerns about over-exposure to disinfectants. Common concerns have included skin burns and breathing difficulties, especially among people who misused or mixed products.
The state Poison Control System offered these tips to protect yourself and your family:
- Use products as directed on the label.
- Don’t mix multiple disinfectant products together.
- Make sure to be in a well-ventilated area when using disinfectants.
- Use the recommended personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles) per the product label.
- Don’t use cleaning products on the skin or ingest or inject them.
- Do not use disinfectants on food.
- Keep household disinfectants out of reach of young children and add child locks to cupboards where disinfectants are stored.
- Store cleaning products in their original labeled containers. If diluted disinfectants and sanitizers are put in spray bottles, be sure they are clearly labeled and stored out of the reach of children.
Know the Poison Control number – 800-222-1222 – and PoisonHelp.org, which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Language interpreters are available.
