Aloha Ray, This is awesome. Thank you for such a simple and concise document. I'm sending it to everyone I know. Betsy At 12:08 PM 10/11/2008, you wrote:
>Nearly every household uses products containing hazardous materials. >Although the risk > >of a chemical accident is slight, knowing how to handle these products and >how to react > >during an emergency can reduce the risk of injury. > >How to prepare for household chemical emergencies > >1. Contact agencies with expertise on hazardous household materials, such as >your local > >public health department or the Environmental Protection Agency, for >information > >about potentially dangerous household products and their antidotes. Ask >about the > >advisability of maintaining antidotes in your home for: cleaners and >germicides, > >deodorizers, detergents, drain and bowl cleaners, gases, home medications, >laundry > >bleaches, liquid fuels, paint removers and thinners. > >2. Follow instructions on the product label for proper disposal of >chemicals. Proper > >disposal will ensure environmental and public health as well as household >well-being. > >If you have additional questions on chemical disposal, call your local >environmental or > >recycling agency. > >. Small amounts of the following products can be safely poured down the >drain with > >plenty of water: bathroom and glass cleaner, bleach, drain cleaner, >household > >disinfectant, laundry and dishwashing detergent, rubbing alcohol, rug and > >upholstery cleaner, and toilet bowl cleaner. > >. Small amounts of the following products should be disposed by wrapping the > >container in newspaper and plastic and placing it in the trash: brake fluid, >car wax > >or polish, dish and laundry soap, fertilizer, furniture and floor polish, >insect > >repellent, nail polish, oven cleaner, paint thinners and strippers, >pesticides, powder > >cleansers, water-based paint, wood preservatives. > >. Dispose of the following products at a recycling center or a collection >site: kerosene, > >motor or fuel oil, car battery or battery acid, diesel fuel, transmission >fluid, large > >amounts of paint, thinner or stripper, power steering fluid, turpentine, gun >cleaning > >solvents, and tires. > >. Empty spray cans completely before placing in the trash. Do not place >spray cans > >into a burning barrel, incinerator, or trash compactor because they may >explode. > >. Flush outdated and unused medicines down the toilet and place the empty >container > >in the trash. Out-dated medicines can cause ill effects. Flushing them will >eliminate > >the risk of people or animals picking them out of the trash. > >3. Read directions before using a new chemical product and be sure to store >household > >chemicals according to the instructions on the label. > >4. Store chemicals in a safe, secure location, preferably up high and always >out of the > >reach of children. > >5. Avoid mixing household chemical products. Deadly toxic fumes can result >from the > >mixture of chemicals such as chlorine bleach and ammonia. > >_____ > >Page 2 > >6. Never smoke while using household chemicals. Avoid using hair spray, >cleaning > >solutions, paint products, or pesticides near an open flame, pilot light, >lighted candle, > >fireplace, wood burning stove, etc. Although you may not be able to see or >smell > >them, vapor particles in the air could catch fire or explode. > >7. If you spill a chemical, clean it up immediately with rags. Be careful to >protect your > >eyes and skin (wear gloves and eye protection). Allow the fumes in the rags >to > >evaporate outdoors, then dispose of the rags by wrapping them in a newspaper >and > >placing them in a sealed plastic bag in your trash can. > >8. Buy only as much of a chemical as you think you will use. If you have >product > >left over, try to give it to someone who will use it. Storing hazardous >chemicals > >increases risk of chemical emergencies. > >9. Keep an A-B-C-rated fire extinguisher in the home and car, and get >training from your > >local fire department on how to use it. > >10. Post the number of the nearest poison control center by all telephones. >In an > >emergency situation you may not have time to look up critical phone numbers. > >11. Learn to detect hazardous materials. Many hazardous materials do not >have a taste > >or an odor, and some can be detected because they cause physical reactions >such as > >watering eyes or nausea. Other hazardous materials exist beneath the ground >and > >can be recognized by an oil or foam-like appearance. > >12. Learn to recognize the symptoms of toxic poisoning: > >. Difficulty breathing > >. Irritation of the eyes, skin, throat or respiratory tract > >. Changes in skin color > >. Headache or blurred vision > >. Dizziness > >. Clumsiness or lack of coordination > >. Cramps or diarrhea > >What to do during a household chemical emergency > >1. If your child should eat or drink a non-food substance, find any >containers immediately > >and take them to the phone. Medical professionals may need specific >information from > >the container to give you the best emergency advice. > >2. Call the poison control center, emergency medical services (EMS), 911, >hospital > >emergency room, county health department, fire department or your local >pharmacy. > >They will give you emergency advice while you wait for professional help. >You > >should have such numbers on hand for easy access and use. > >_____ > >Page 3 > >3. Follow the emergency operator or dispatcher's instructions carefully. The >first aid > >advice found on containers may not be appropriate. Do not give anything by >mouth > >until medical professionals have advised you. > >4. Take immediate action if the chemical gets into the eyes. Delaying first >aid can > >greatly increase the likelihood of injury. Flush the eye with clear, water >for a > >minimum of 15 minutes, unless authorities instruct you not to use water on >the > >particular chemical involved. Continue the cleansing process even if the >victim > >indicates he or she is no longer feeling any pain, and then seek medical >attention. > >5. Get out of the residence immediately if there is danger of a fire or >explosion. Do not > >waste time collecting items or calling the fire department when you are in >danger. > >6. If there is a fire or explosion, call the fire department from outside (a >cellular phone > >or a neighbor's phone) once you are safely away from danger. > >7. Stay upwind and away from the residence to avoid breathing toxic fumes. > >8. Wash hands, arms, or other exposed body parts that may have been exposed >to the > >chemical. Chemicals may continue to irritate the skin until they are washed >off. > >9. Discard clothing that may have been contaminated. Some chemicals may not >wash > >out completely. Discarding clothes will prevent potential future exposure. > >10. Administer first aid treatment to victims of chemical burns. > >. Call 911 for emergency help. > >. Remove clothing and jewelry from around the injury. > >. Pour clean, cool water over the burn for 15 to 30 minutes. > >. Loosely cover the burn with a sterile or clean dressing. Be sure that the >dressing > >will not stick to the burn. > >. Refer victim to a medical professional for further treatment. > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
