I am choosing to ignore what the calendar says… Despite the fact that in bold, black, block letters the words, “FIRST DAY OF SUMMER” appear on June 21, we have been experiencing summer-like temperatures in the low 90s for the past 10 days. Amazingly, the blistering heat has not kept the bugs away. I think they are desperately trying to get in our home to escape the heat outside. Meanwhile, my daughter has been making a beeline for the front door—she wants out of the house and into the pool.
Don’t get me wrong; I love the warmer summer months (after all, we’ve been waiting for them for about nine months), but I also realize that the nice weather means my child (and yours) is at greater risk of coming in contact with pesticides, toxic plants, insects and other dangers.
Here are a few safety tips to consider in the weeks ahead:
MUSHROOMS
Last month we experienced a large amount of rainfall, which led to a bountiful crop of unwanted mushrooms popping up in lawns in our area. Whereas my 3-year-old would love nothing more than to grab her Easter basket and collect them to share with all of us, I knew I had to take measures to prevent that from happening. It’s a good idea to scan areas where your children are playing (public play areas included) to be sure there are no mushrooms present. If your child does eat a wild mushroom, save a complete sample of another mushroom, place it in a bag and seek medical attention immediately.
FERTILIZERS
Some fertilizers contain chemicals that irritate the skin, while others can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. It’s important to read instructions thoroughly before applying fertilizers, and use proper protective clothing and equipment when working with these products.
BUG SPRAYS or PRODUCTS CONTAINING DEET
When applying bug sprays on children aim for their clothing and apply only a sparing amount directly to skin. Also, remember to wash all exposed skin after returning inside the house.
OTHER OUTDOOR HAZARDS
Gasoline—-Make sure you store gas in a clearly marked container. We have a bunch of Mr. Yucky stickers (provided by our local Poison Center) plastered on ours to remind our daughter that she is not allowed to touch the container.
Turpentine and Paint Thinner—Store them in their original containers and out of reach of children.
In addition, pesticides, antifreeze, lighter fluid, and other dangerous chemicals should be stored out of children’s reach, in a locked cabinet or garden shed.
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