Anthrax. It used to be a cool name for a rock band (and now they are considering changing it). The bacteria has changed the way many of us live. Some folks aren't even opening mail at home -- even though the chances of them receiving the powdery substance in their mailbox is essentially nil.

However, many of the same people who worry about anthrax live everyday with dangerous substances in their homes and haven't done a thing to reduce the threat to themselves, their kids or their neighbors.

Some dangers are obvious -- paint, various cleaning products, auto chemicals, even plants. Others are not so obvious -- mouthwash, toothpaste (that's right -- read the small print), hair treatment products, just to name a few. The nation's poison centers received more than 8,800 calls per day in 2000 -- that's 3.2 million calls for the year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Most poisonings in our homes are by accident and can be avoided following a few guidelines.

Containers

Keep potentially-dangerous substances in their original containers.

Switching over to another containers can take away the precautions you will need to take quick action if someone gets poisoned: The directions for treatment, where to call for help, and possibly even more important: what not to do if someone is poisoned. Usually such information is printed right on the container. Switch to a handy glass bottle "because it's easier to use" and you've just lost your first line of defense.

Use Properly

There's a reason harmful products have this legally mandated phrase on them: "Use Only As Directed." Believe it or not, there are a lot of knuckleheads out there who can invent new -- albeit disastrous -- uses for products.

An ambulance was called to one of the pools in my neighborhood this summer -- complete with TV news teams trailing. A chemist-wannabe teenager decided to mix his cherry soda with pool chemicals, resulting in an exciting explosion that took him to the hospital for eye care. (How he got access to those chemicals is another story.)

Use common sense. Keep medicines in safe places. Put medicines away during open houses. Keep medicines away from children.

Follow Instructions

What steps must you take to be safe? Read the instructions.

If the product says "open windows and allow for good ventilation" it means you should open some windows and allow for good ventilation. There is a reason for such advice, and instructions should be carefully followed.

Here are some prevention tips for adults from AAPCC. (My comments are in parenthesis):

• Store food and household chemical in separate areas. (Don't think a small child looking at dishwasher detergent with a lemon on the front might not think it's good to eat. Lock-up dangerous products to prevent access to children.)

• Never mix household and chemical products together. Never mix several chemical products together. (At a government research laboratory in Maryland recently, a trained chemist mixed two substances together and the lab blew up.)

• Wear protective clothing -- long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks, shoes, gloves and goggles -- when spraying pesticides and using other chemicals.

• Never sniff containers to discover what's inside. (A lot of people did that in the '60s and look where it got them.)

• Consider expiration dates on yard products. Carrying over from one year to the next might not work. Discard appropriately. (Check with your local waste management company for drop off sites for chemicals.)

• First aid instructions on old product containers may be incorrect or outdated. Call your local Poison Control Center or doctor if an exposure occurs. (AAPCC has a list of regional and local poison centers on its web site). Print out the contact information for the location nearest you and place it in a convenient place.

• As AAPCC explains:

  If your child swallowed something.....
  If your grandmother took the wrong medicine.....
  If you breathed fumes that might be toxic......
  If you’re not sure if something’s poisonous......
  

  Call 1-800-222-1222

• If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911.

• You can obtain AAPCC's poison prevention brochure by pressing here.

For more articles by M. Anthony Carr, please press here.